Sunday Observations - May 17

- This is the last Sunday Observations. I am afraid I am getting too routine. Also, I don't feel so creative. Future blog entries will be more random and less predictable. Keep checking back and thanks for reading.

- Most of the last week was consumed with preparing for the Regional Track Meet which we were hosting again. All week I was worried about rain. The morning was cloudy. The rest of the day was a rotating mixture of clouds, bright sun and light rain. The light rain was actually nice, it cooled things off and made for pleasant conditions. The meet was running very well.

And then 5:00 hit. We were in the middle of the boys 3200 with only the girls and boys 4x400 remaining when we were greeted by thunder and lightning from above. We had to stop the 3200 mid-race and move everyone inside our cafeteria. The rain came with the thunder and lightning and we delayed the meet until almost 7:30. At that time, we returned outside and finished what was left of the 3200 and the 4x400s.

- Ten years ago, we would have finished the 3200 even with lightning around us. Not anymore. In the interest of safety (and to avoid potential litigation), the rules are strict. No competition at the sight of lightning or the sound of thunder. You may resume after 30 minutes from the last lightning. Every time there is new lightning or thunder, the clock starts over. About twice, we were 15 minutes from starting and then new lightning. It was frustrating.

- My team finished 6th. Qualified Ty in the 100, Catie in the 800 and 1600 and the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

- Quote of the Week I:
"Coach Uy, were you born in the 40s or the 50s."
This was a serious question one of my students asked me while doing independent work. Obviously, I am not aging as well as I had previously thought.

- Quote of the Week II:
"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." - CS Lewis

- North Carolina this week passed a ban on smoking in most indoor public places. I abhor smoking. I hate going to places that make me smell like an ashtray when I leave. The one thing a person can do that will make them instantly unattractive to me physically is to smoke.

After NC's smoking ban, bars brace for uncertain times

I do, however, believe that private businesses that do not allow children (ie bars, nightclubs), should allow smoking if they choose. They can also choose to not allow smoking. Adults should be able to decide for themselves what they want to do with their business and their health. I usually prefer not to visit Hannah Flannagan's at night because I reek when I leave. Westville Pub, a non-smoking bar, is one of my favorite places in Asheville to eat, drink and meet friends.And to the bar owner in the article linked above, Westville and Jack of the Wood are both non-smoking. Walk by there any evening and they are also both full of customers. If you have a good product, people will come. Give me a clean and fun atmosphere, good food and drink, friendly service, good music and my friends and I'll be there.

Crush of the Week:
After the retirement of Dan Marino, the face of the Miami Dolphins belonged to two individuals: Zach Thomas (54 below) and Jason Taylor (Number 99). Both players, who happen to be brother in laws, moved on to different teams last season: Thomas with the Cowboys and Taylor to the Redskins.Jason Taylor spent last season underacheiving. Some of it was due to a calf injury. Some because of a new defensive scheme that did not take advantage of the skills of the 6 time Pro Bowler and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Part of it, I like to believe, is because he missed Miami. He would fly home every week to be with his family who stayed in South Florida.

Now, JT is home! Sometimes players tell you it's not about the money and you know it's not true. Jason Taylor signed one year for 1.5 million. That's a lot for me, but a mere penance for a former Defensive Player of the Year. He could have signed a one year deal with lots of teams for more than that. He walked away from 1 year, 8.9 million dollar contract that he could have signed with Washington.
I truly think it's not about the money. I believe he wants to be close to his family and home. He wants to continue to work in the community in South Florida through the charities he supports. And he wants to retire as a Miami Dolphin. When I read the article, I was elated! Dancing, singing, whooping elated.

Sunday Observations - Apr 26

- Congratulations to Felisha Garren. The former North Henderson athlete and Western Carolina freshman ran on the 4x400m team that won the Southern Conference Championship this weekend at Georgia Southern. Their time was 3:44.99. Fe also placed 4th in the 400 and 5th in the 200.

- I went to a presentation from the Grace team that went to Uganda in February. Pray for me and see if that's something that is in God's will for me in the future. In the meantime, check out the video: http://graceinfo.org/video-av/ugandapresent.html

- Please go to this website and sign the e-petition if you support it. The proposed trail would go along my backyard. When I first bought the house 7 years ago, the train ran twice a day. It hasn't run for at least two years. Here's more info: http://www.ncrailtrails.org/BREVARD.HTM

- Quote of the Week:
"Somalia is what happens when you let teenagers run a country" - Paul Larate

- Quote of the Week II (While at a cookout at Laura's on a beautiful spring evening):
Sara: "Why would anyone want to leave Asheville?"
Ruth: "The better question is: Why would anyone want to leave us?"
True, so true...

Song of the Week:
It showed up on my TV last week and then was used at Grace this morning.

Tracy Chapman - Change
Uploaded by TracyChapman

Crush of the Week:
When I was hired at North Henderson, David Pierce was teaching in my room. He was moved so I could be next door to the great Dot Case. Coach Pierce was also the girl's track coach. When he retired, I was asked to fill his position. Coach Pierce was an avid outdoorsman who liked to fish, bike and canoe/kayak and we often talked outdoors adventures.

He retired from teaching but continued to coach track at rival West Henderson. Two years ago, during a windstorm, he went to his favorite spot to fly fish. On his way out, a large tree branch fell and hit him, causing severe head injuries. A friend found him when his wife called because he had not returned. He spent several weeks in hospital because of his head injuries and several more weeks in rehab. For a while, it was a huge question mark if he would regain all his motor skills because of the head trauma.

Here are some of the Times-News articles:
Pierce Returns to Role of Starter for WHKP Relays
After Severe Injury, Pierce Back at West
Pierce Remains in Critical Condition

Good news is that Coach Pierce is back. He was the starter for the WHKP Relays that we hosted before spring break and again this past Tuesday for the County Meet. The photo above is him working as starter for the Mountain to Seas meet at Western Carolina a few weeks ago. Two years ago, many wondered if he would even walk again for how productive he might be. Truth be told, he looks pretty good.

Sunday Observations - Apr 19

- Spring Break is over. It was low key, but it was good. I mean, I got in 3 bicycle rides, 2 motorcycle rides, 2 rounds of golf, 1 night of Quizzo, 1 College Football Spring Game, 2 pounds of crawfish, a great cookout and 1/2 of my house cleaner than it was before.

- Speaking of the Spring Game, made it to Atlanta for Tech's T-Day game. Gold defeated White 31-28. It was a sloppy game. First play was a fumble. It kinda of set the tone for the rest of the game.Offense made some good plays, even without Josh Nesbitt playing and Jonathan Dwyer Demaryius Thomas getting limited reps. Defense was okay. Special teams atrocious. The Spring Game is just a glorified scrimmage, but for a fanatic like me, it's a fabulous football fix in between the bowl games and the start of the season in August.
- Part of my weekend in Atlanta entailed going to the High Museum and seeing the First Emperor exhibit. China's first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, was a brutal tyrant who basically conscripted an entire nation to either work on his Great Wall, his Burial Tomb inside manmade Mount Li, or a vast army of clay that were to guard his tomb in the afterlife.
Despite being a ruthless despot, Qin managed to unify feudal China, standardize writing, weights, and measure. Qin (pronounced chin) left a lasting legacy through his unfication of China and this incredible terra cotta army.

- If you are in Midtown Atlanta, you have to eat at the Flying Biscuit. It has been a longtime favorite of mine.
- I sat at the bar in the Flying Biscuit and talked to a guy from Colorado named Richard. He worked in the tea industry was in Atlanta for a coffee convention. How do you get a job where you fly around the world tasting coffee? Sign me up!

- Did you know that the NBA is having a playoff? It's dumb that their first round games are best of 7 series. The whole thing takes to long. Make the first round best of 3. Then it would be more interesting!

Crush of the Week:
Read this entry from my friend Kate. I agree. Michelle Obama does the whole role of first lady well. She's classy, smart and was a hit with the Queen Mum. I like her. She's this week's crush.

Sunday Observations - Dec 14

1) Knights wrestling split this past week. Won our home opener against Hendersonville (47-26), but lost 42-24 at Mitchell. We did finish the wall of fame in our auxilary gymnasium. Ed Lewis, our art teacher did an amazing job designing it.

2) Yesterday was very strange for me. I didn't have an college scores to check on. It was quite sad. On several occasions, I have found myself wondering if heaven has college football. Am I strange?

3) Sam Bradford was a good choice for the Heisman. Tim Tebow would have gotten my vote, but Bradford makes a great argument (as does Colt McCoy). Perhaps Bradford's going airborne against Oklahoma State was what put him over. It will be one of the defining moments of his college career and this football season.


4) I don't know Rod Blagojevich. From the what I see on the news, I have come to these conclusions:- He is angry.
- He is greedy.
- He is arrogant.
- He has bad hair.

5) The art department at North Henderson sponsored "Empty Bowls". Students and staff created their own clay bowls and they were sold Thursday night in a banquet. The proceeds go to our Backpak program that feeds hungry students at North. Great stuff. You should have seen some of the bowls, we have some neat and creative people at the school.
Here's the article in Hendersonville News.


Crush of the Week:
I was listening to Pandora and there was a cover of the Cure's classic "Just Like Heaven". I liked the sound of it and looked to see who it was. Her name was Katie Melua, a British singer/songwriter born in the Georgia (the former Soviet Republic, not the Peach State). I listened to some of her other stuff on itunes and youtube. Some of it was okay, nothing really stood out. But "Just Like Heaven" sounded great and Katie's really cute, so she's this week's crush.

Sunday Observations - Dec 7

1. Today is Pearl Harbor Day. Kinda overshadowed with the economy, Christmas season and various other distractions, but please don't forget what happened 67 years ago today.

2. Knights Wrestling had a tough week. Took a beating at Madison (46-27) and didn't meet expectations at Falcon Frenzy. After some early success, maybe the rough week was what we needed.

3. With OJ Simpson now going to jail, does that mean he will "go away"? If I had gone through what he went through with the murder trial, I would have avoided the spotlight.

4. Why do musicians feel like it's okay to hijack Christmas music? I was driving to church and there was this version of "Joy to the World" that I just abhorred. It's like they think, "Oh, I have no more creative energy, let me ruin this great hymn." I bet everyone can think of examples of otherwise good Christmas songs ruined by some artist looking for a paycheck.

However, one of my favorites is Barenaked Ladies and Sarah MacLachlan's version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings".


5) Please don't bailout the Detroit Big Three. I know that an estimated 3 million jobs lost if Detroit fails, but I believe that bailing out inefficient and bloated corporations is not the answer. The minimum 15 billion that the GM, Chrysler and Ford are asking for can be better used to help the people displaced by jobs lost if the industry shutters rather than assist companies that have thumbed their noses at fuel efficiency, ignored the futures market and offers too many okay and good cars but not enough great cars.

6) I haven't done any Christmas shopping. I resolve not to. I am going to sit at the computer and bring everything to my house.

7) I am at the age where the Holidays have changed for me. I don't look forward to presents. Matter of fact, I would be fine if I didn't receive any; I am blessed beyond what I deserve already. I do look forward to the Holidays and not just for the break from school (as the wrestling coach, I don't really get much of one anyway). But I do get to see friends who, though close in heart, are not close in proximity. I am looking forward to visiting with Emily, Paul, Ryan, Jeff, Karen and the rest of my friends from out of town. See you soon guys!

Crush of the Week:
I read a nice article by ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski on Greg Maddux's retirement. I barely remember this week's announcement of one of the greatest pitchers in Major League Baseball history. Granted, I am not much of a baseball fan anymore, but I am a SPORTS fan. When one of the all-time greats leaves a sport, it's a big deal. And there was barely a commotion when Maddux retired outside of a small press release. Maddux wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

He wasn't built like a tank, he was dorky and skinny. Despite 355 wins (8th all-time), 10th on the career strikeout list, 4 Cy Young awards as the best pitcher and a record 18 Gold Gloves for fielding, Maddux never quite got the press of Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez or even his teammates in Atlanta, John Smoltz or Tom Glavine. And he was okay with it. This SI cover was printed 13 years ago (in 1995) and the article by the great Tom Verducci basically is a preview for the retirement commentary by Wojciechowski. Maddux hasn't changed, he's still unassuming, job oriented, blue collar.
In an age of "LOOK AT ME", Maddux is a refreshing change of pace. There will be no one else like him who can pitch, field, hit garner all sorts of awards and go around unnoticed. Greg Maddux: one of my favorite baseball players of all time (with Nolan Ryan and Cal Ripken, Jr) and this week's crush.

Sunday Observations- Nov 16

1) I went to Boone yesterday to see my alma mater, Elon, play Appalachian State in an important Southern Conference showdown. Elon was ranked 10th in the country and ASU ranked 2nd. It was a great game, even if Elon lost 24-16. I loved the game, it was cold and wet. Rain and, at times, snow were blowing into our faces. This is football. People around me were whining but I was in bliss. It made me feel like I was in Lambeau or Buffalo. I'm glad we made the trip, I haven't seen Elon play in about 5 years. Elon has come a long way since the days of playing games at Williams High School.

2) Random encounters are so neat. We walked into Mellow Mushroom in Boone and a young lady walked up to me and asked if I was Heang Uy. It was a girl I went to high school with. Then she turned to my friend Dave and asked, "were you in a band?" Dave used to play in a band called Dirt Poor Authority. You can find them on itunes. That encounter made Dave's day and made him feel like a rockstar. Dirt Poor hadn't played in over 5 years and someone from "the day" remembered him. Good times.

3) I love my iphone. I will admit that I am a bit addicted to it. That's part of being a geek. Now that it's cold, I have found one fault with it. The touch screen works on heat, not pressure, so I cannot use the phone with gloves on. Unfortunately for me, I am a glover when the weather is cold. So if you call and I don't answer, it might because I am fumbling my phone out of my pocket then taking off a glove and then unlocking the phone...

4) I would not recommend Geno's in Boone. We stopped there for dinner. The food was amazingly slow to get there and the selection bland. I'm to the point also that I don't want to eat where they allow smoking. The most amazing thing was when my friend asked for chili cheese fries and the waitress said they couldn't do it because the kitchen would be mad. She could, however, bring cheese fries and a side of chili for an extra charge. But bringing french fries, chili and cheese on one plate was not possible.

5) Discipline was the topic of the week at our youth leaders meeting and at church this morning. Read Proverbs 3. The Lord disciplines the ones he loves. When you are as egotistical as I am, discipline can be a very disconcerting thing. Who am I that I need to be disciplined? God's word humbles me.

Man-Crush of the Week: Jeremy Gillespie. Why? 1) He wanted to be it. 2) He let me bring my wrestling team to Camp Arrowhead for North Henderson Wrestling's boot camp. 3) He was pretty rocking when leading worship at Grace this morning. 4) His other identity (don't tell anyone, shhh) is Superman.

Sunday Observations

This blog continues to evolve. Instead of a weekly post devoted to my crush for the week, I am replacing that post with "Sunday Observations". Sunday Observations are just my short, random musings of the previous week (if I can get to it). The "Crush" is not going away, there are too many people I like-- it will just be grouped into the "Sunday Observations". Without further adeiu, this today's observations:

1. Through Facebook status updates, Internet forums and comments left by readers to online articles, there are a lot of people who think we need to pray for our country since Obama was elected President. My question, if McCain was elected President, would we not need to pray for our country?

2. Texas Tech is really fun to watch on offense.

3. Georgia should have lost, unbelievable ending. They stopped Kentucky on 4th down, but were called for a facemask. Kentucky's next play was an interception by a defensive lineman who was being blocked. See the clip below.


Alabama should have lost. What was Jarrett Lee thinking on that pass? Your defense blocks a game winning field goal to force overtime and then you throw an interception to give yourself no chance to win the game. Rediculous!

4. Thank goodness I am not a Tennessee fan. Homecoming loss to Wyoming?

5. I was measured for a tux today for my college roommate Jeff's wedding in December. I am a 31 sleeve, 31 waist and 48 overarm. I won't tell you the rest because I don't want you to make life size voodoos of me. You'll have to guess the neck, underarm and all the other random measurements.

Proof that God Exists:
Last season, Bobby Petrino, in the midst of a terrible first season in Atlanta, abandoned his contract, commitment and team and took the head job at the University of Arkansas. He didn't even meet with his team. He left them a letter. Packed his office and left them letters in their lockers. It was gutless.

This year, Arkansas is 4-6 and 1-5 in the SEC (last in their division), including beating might football powers Western Illinois and Louisiana Monroe by a combined 5 points. The Falcons, one of the worst teams in the NFL last season, is 6-3 and second in their division behind rookie Matt Ryan's marvelous play. Justice is served.

Crush of the Week:
Jennifer Pharr Davis. Check this post. How can you not like Blue Ridge Outdoor Magazine's Person of the Year?

Man-Crush of the Week: Mains

When I looked over the Georgia Tech football schedule this summer, I was not really impressed with our home slate. But I did see Florida State and thought that would be a great game, especially if one of my favorite persons would make the drive to Atlanta with me. Dave was raised a Seminole in Tallahassee and even tried out for the football team at FSU. His wife, Candi, is awesome and his son, Walker, is one of my buddies, so I am a fan of the Mains household.

We had a great time. Tailgate was fun, Dave even bought a Tech shirt because he was paranoid about being "that guy". No decent person wants to be a guest and be a jerk at the same time. It was a close and exciting game that was not decided until Seminole fullback Marcus Sim's fumble on the Tech goal line with 45 seconds left was recovered by the Jackets to preserve a 3 point victory.

Dave's this week's crush. One of the most dependable and nicest guys you'll ever meet. Great football coach and wrestling coach (though retired from wrestling) and a superb math teacher (Apple Valley teacher of the year a few years ago). Two words for Mains: "Go Jackets!"

The bad: When I committed to this weekend, I didn't check my calendar. I double booked on top of the wedding of my dear friends Jeff and Anna Plack and also missed the State Cross Country meet for the first time in 6 years. The Lady Knights finished 4th in the state despite not having their best day of racing.

Co-Crushes of the Week: Even hotter than Condi Rice

Spent the weekend in the nation's capital. Got to hang out and see two of the coolest people I know. Cindy works at the Library of Congress and designs cool graphic layouts and somehow is always right in everything she says and does. M-stu is a nursing student at Marymount and is among the most gregorious of all my friends. Both are great gals, play frisbee (photo above taken after frisbee on the National Mall) and hotter than the current Secretary of State.

Near Crushes:
Sarah Palin... the Alaska governor makes near crush status again, but can't seem to break into "Crush-land". Her appearance in Asheville on Sunday puts her back on the near crush list. Dressed in jeans and a black jacket, she doesn't look much like a person whose woredrobe came from Nieman Marcus or Saks. Oh, I forgot, she's a hockey mom...
Ted Ginn, Jr... put me into the category of haters. I thought he was a bust after last year. The 'Fins wasted a first round pick on a punt returner? Jeez! 7 catches for 175 yards in Miami's defeat of the AFC East leading Bills. One game does not make a career but, hopefully, Ginn can build on this week's excellent performance.

Crush of the Week: Tina

When I was still watching "Saturday Night Live", my favorite segment was "Weekend Update" and I thought Tina Fey was hot. The first female lead writer in "Saturday Night Live" history, Fey has shown versatility and talent rising through the ranks of late night and then prime time comedy. Admittedly, I have never seen her new show "30 Rock" but she helped produce and is a writer for the show. It did win an Emmy for Comedy Series and Fey won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy. Fey has famously returned to "Saturday Night Live" this year with her, as Sarah Palin describes, "spot on" impersonation of the Alaska governor. Fey is cute, smart, witty and funny-- all which makes for a great crush.

Crush of the Week: GFP

This week's crush led to awarding really smart dudes Dr. Osamu Shimomura of Boston University Medical School, Martin Chalfie of Columbia University, New York, and Roger Y. Tsien of University of California, San Diego being awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Green Florescent Protein (or GFP) is amazing research that uses the natural biochemistry of certain jellyfish to reveal more about the workings of organisms at the cellular and subcellular levels. Besides giving us glowing pigs, GFP is helping to reveal new information about the working of cells and assisting researchers in tracking the spread of cancer cells. It's my first ever crush on a protein, but I think it's a well deserved one.

Near Crush: Martti Ahtisaari, the former Finnish president, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace last week. I like Finns and I like peace, so makes for a good crush. Pay attention tomorrow, for the Nobel award in Economics will be announced. With the downturn in stocks, banks and US and global finances, this person better be good.

Crush of the Week: Nora

I was in the car the other day and this song came over the radio. If I could choose one person to sing to me at night, it might be Norah Jones. That voice is is therapy, it would be a good end to a tough day. She's not the most amazing voice, nor does she have the most range. She just works and for that, she's this week's crush. Thank you free radio for bringing her to me and reminding me of someone I've forgotten about for a while.

Near Crushes: Jan Stanley, volleyball coach at West Henderson for setting a new record for career coaching wins; Jim Lehrer, for trying, despite their attempts otherwise, to get the candidates to actually answer the question in front of them.

Crush of the Week

Alright, I am starting a new post called "Crush of the Week". It is to recognize someone I am: secretly infatuated with, dangerously obsessed with, or just pretty darn impressed with. This week's crush is actually a "man-crush". So I hearby introduce my man-crush of the past week: Ronnie Brown, running back for the Miami Dolphins.
Look at his stat line today: 113 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns on just 17 carries. That's 6.6 yards an attempt! Ronnie was also 1-1 passing, the completion going for 19 yards and a TOUCHDOWN! Oh, and he had 1 catch for 9 yards. Between 4 rushing touchdowns and 1 passing, Brown accounted for 30 of Miami's 38 points in a 38-13 rout of New England and handing the Patriots their first regular season loss in over almost two years.

Look, it's been really hard to be a Dolphins fan for the last few years. I am a realist; I don't expect them to win the Super Bowl. I just want to see that my team is getting better and today was a step in that direction...

Near Crushes: Michael Johnson, DE GaTech for his two pass deflections, fumble recovery, fourth down sack AND blocked field goal in Tech's 38-7 victory over Miss St (cool that both my teams scored 38); Dot Case, Rachel Durant, and Kathryn Bailey for bringing lots of yummy food after my tooth extractions.