Thanksgiving...

Well it has been a week since I blogged about the Marlows...or at least one Marlow and one soon-to-be Marlow. Although, it doesn't feel like it has been a week. In fact, it feels like it has been merely a day, possibly two. Both Matt and I have been really busy!

On Wednesday, Matt loaded up with the team taking a bus to Reagan Airport to head to Milwaukee Wisconsin for the Marquette's Women's Basketball Thanksgiving Tournament. After the flight, the team got to work with practice. Then it was Thanksgiving, and Matt had turkey for the first time on Thanksgiving in a long time! Thanksgiving day was game free, but I'm sure there was still practice and work to be done. Friday the 15th-ranked Virginia women’s basketball team faced and defeated Utah in its first game at the WBCA Classic. Tonight they will take on Marquette, the host themselves. I don't evny Matt, working on a holiday that is all about family, but I know what would make his holiday. Virginia holding on to beat Virginia Tech. Currently UVA is winning 14-7 at halftime!! GO HOOS! Matt and his sister Katharine (who is a Hokie - senior at VT) always smack-talk this time of year, specifically for this game and I know Matt would love for a UVA victory since lately the Hokies have been dominating. So, although he is spending today working until the game, I'm sure he has his eye on the score of the "big" game! UVA will play again tomorrow before heading back to Charlottesville.

Last Friday, (look at last post) I was in Daleville, Alabama visiting my sister Barbara, my brother-in-law Eric, and my niece Abby. I got back to my parents condo Friday night - and froze my butt off!!!! 26 degrees in Florida is just wrong, plain and simple...Anyways, I spent Saturday as a lazy day (bad idea since my first final is in 3 days) - but I took Molly out to play and walk for a while and then spent the day reading the book Twilight. I'm not kidding. I know some of you are shocked - I read! Anyways, FANTASTIC book! Since then have finished book 2 (Half Moon) and book 3 (Eclipse). Although I will say, went to the movie with my mom, oldest sister Kimberly, and twin sister, Robyn...HORRIBLE! Anyways, Saturday night Kimberly and her husband Jeff showed up at the door (after a long drive from St. Louis) with my nephews Logan and Carter. I spent Sunday and Monday hanging out with them - even babysitting one night. It was fun! Next thing I knew it was Tuesday. I had a meeting with a potential florist for the wedding - BOOKED her! She was amazing! Then off to pick up my twin sister from the airport and take Molly to vet for annual check-up (sidenote: Molly has lost 10 lbs. and her bloodwork and heartworm test results were fantastic). Then it was time for my parents to arrive that night! That was a blast because they had packed up 1/2 of the rental house from Gadsden. We helped unload into their new house - I'd never see the inside so it was awesome! The next day was "girls day" and i spent my morning attempting to finish my international ip paper. Then we (the girls) went to lunch and a movie. The next day was the BIG DAY - HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Woke up early...got some work done...watched some of the parade...hung out with my dad...got ready for brunch...took family portraits with everyone (Barbara, Eric, and Abby arrived that morning)...had brunch at the Sandestin Grand...and then headed back to the condo for the best part...ORNAMENT MAKING party! We got together and decided to surprise my parents with an ornament making party after the brunch - and everyone made ornaments! (Some of you may know, some may not...my family house burned down in March after being struck by lightening and my family lost everything - materialistic that is...they still had their lives) so it was a fantastic idea that my parents loved and I have to say, after 3 hours, the new tree and new homemade ornaments look FANTASTIC! Then the next morning, Friday, I was up early and driving back to Birmingham by 5:30 am. I was back in Birmingham by 10 am and started preparing for finals and finishing papers. That is what I will be doing all weekend as my first final is Monday at 8 am.

However, I just wanted to let eveyone know how thankful Matt and I are for all of you! We hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving - whether with family or not, whether with turkey or not, whether with finals or not! Ha!

On the road again...

Last Thursday, both Matt and I were "on the road again"........

Matt and the UVA women's basketball team were headed to Norfolk to take on ODU Friday night. Unfortunately, although it was a hard fight, Friday night the Hoos suffered their first loss of the season. They then headed back to C'ville to recoup and kick Coloroado's butt last night!

I on the other hand headed down to Florida Thursday with Molly to my parents condo in Sandestin! Then I was out of the condo Friday morning by 5:10 to drive to see my sister Barbara, her husband Eric, and my niece Abby! I got there just in time - aka late thanks to traffic, but it worked out fine! Abby and I painted a Turkey day t-shirt (her class was having a special T-day lunch that I got invited to...actually it was her whole school, not just the Bunny class)...and we also painted paper plates and Abby's tummy! Then it was bath time - with purple water! Then after bath it was time to get dressed and watch some Tinkerbell, snuggle, and play! Soon it was time to get to school! Then we ate at school with friends, then off to the mall for a special visit to see Santa and I do mean "just say hi - give high-fives - play hide and go seek"....sitting in Santa's lap hasn't quite been mastered yet...can't blame the girl - a guy who you've never met in a red suit with a funny hat and beard...who would just run up and say hello....remmeber stranger danger! ha! Anyways, it was a great time with Abby and Barbara (Eric had a trial - which he won..WOO-HOO!!!)

This week is BUSY!!!! My sister Kimberly and her family came to Florida the next day (Saturday) and Matt had to get back to work ASAP on Saturday preparing for Colorado and of course the big Thanksgiving trip! So I'll definitely be blogging more later but until then....HAPPY HOLIDAY WEEK!

Congrats UVA....

Oh my gosh, I couldn't even wait until tomorrow to blog.

In fact, I couldn't even wait 5 minutes.

I just finished watching the best women's basketball game I have ever seen.

The (15) UVA Cavs took on the (7) Lady Vols in Tennessee, and staged the best UPSET I've seen.

It was a fantastic game!!!!! FANTASTIC - AWESOME - FREAKING AMAZING!

If you missed it on SportsSouth, all I can hope is that you can catch a replay!!!

UVA won 83-82...did I mention it was PHENOMENAL game!

Huge props to Monica (Mony) Wright...#22, the player in the picture above for a career high points...35 in this game!!!!! Tonight Monica made basketball look easy - and it was as if just seconds after the ball was in her hands UVA's score was going up! Definitely also to Brittney Millner (good lord can this girl play defense- i tell you, she is a fire ball), for nailing a free throw under huge pressure to give UVA the 1 point lead with with 6 seconds left in the game - and getting her own rebound after her second free throw. The first picture above. Millner - she laughs in the face of pressure!!! (Ok, maybe she wasn't laughing, but when DR asked her if she was ok and/or need a time out, she didn't take it - so we will call that kindof like laughter...or at least I will). And then Whitney Edwards, had this AMAZING steal in the last few minutes - it was one of those plays that are called "game changing!"

I am so proud of the UVA Women's basketball team tonight - they came together as a TEAM and looked good doing it. They hit the boards so hard for offensive rebounds...they were on hands and knees fighting for the loose balls....they didn't stoop to Tennessee's low shots (Glory nailed UVA in back of head for technical)....no - UVA played their game, and it is just what they needed. So, GO HOOS GO!!!

Tonight my blood runs blue and orange, no doubt about that!!!

WA-HOO-WAH!!!!!

It's here...

It's here...my brand new MacBook. Some of you know of my past computer problems, and some of you may not. Well long story short, I was having computer problems. I went to Grace, the computer woman at school. She is fantastic! I mean seriously, best ever. She loaned me a MacBook just like the one I had to use until my issue was resolved. Off my computer went to the Apple store. First, they put in a new hard drive. Grace got my computer back, and...still the problem continued. Back to the Apple store it went with Grace, they shipped it to Memphis for a new motherboard. Grace got my computer back, and...still the problem continued. So Grace then called Apple to see what was going on...and what they were going to try next to fix it..(I would like to take a minute to thank my father for purchasing the Apple Care Protection plan, because all of these fixes would amount to probably $800, but for me were FREE as part of the protection plan). Well Grace chatted with the Apple store for over an hour that morning...and the result is here.

Apple took my old MacBook and offered to exchange it for a brand new one. Since they no longer sell what I bought, then I get the brand new one. I don't have it yet, as it was shipped to Grace and she is putting all of my stuff on it (yeah, she SAVED all my work!) and upgrades (didn't I tell you she was fantastic), but she sent me an email with some pictures! I'm thinking I'll be picking it up tomorrow from her! Just in time to start studying for my finals!

One word....

One word to sum up this week - SICK! I didn't even get to post about last Sunday because around 5:30 pm that night the fever started...then followed the sore throat...before I knew it, I had strep throat! Definitely no fun this week - fevers off an on all week, lost my voice, hurt so bad to swallow, horrible cough...but today (almost one whole week later) I've had my very first fever free day (I know, it's only 9:11 am, but I'm being optimistic!)!

Last Sunday I went on a two hour walk with my neighbor Gene and his great danes, Gunther and Dally. Molly has become really good friends with Gunther and Dally. After we got back Gene and I watched the dogs play in his back yard - and by play I mean Molly eating Gunther's food while Gunther smelled Molly's behind! Ha! The best part however was when Gunther went to eat his own food, oh Molly did not like that. I think she thought it was her food. Well I had to let her know that attempting to go after Gunther was NOT a good idea because it was 1) his food and 2) he could kill her with one swat of his giant paws. See, I'm used to great danes because I grew up with them, but Molly - well she's just thinks she can run with the big dogs.

After the walk, it was off to get Christmas presents done for family. I accomplished some, but not all. I like to have my Christmas shopping done by Thanksgiving!! That way I don't stress about it over finals. Then it was home to shower and get dressed. Mary Frances picked me up at noon and we were off to Christmas Village. It is held inside the BJCC and it is a huge Christmas show with hundreds of booths! I was able to get a lot of stuff - and not just for me! It was fun. Then Mary Frances and I headed to Golden Rule for some BBQ. After that it was back to my apartment so she could help me with some blogger problems. About 30 minutes after she left I started feeling sick.

I started antibiotics, but it just didn't seem to help - at least not until yesterday! Yesterday my fantastic parents (a day before their big Retirement Extravaganza Cruise) brought me more antibiotics, nyquil, kleenex, and SOUP (amongst other stuff)! Man, my parents are fantastic! So I spent most of yesterday in bed besides taking Molly out and will do the same today. I still have a really bad cough, but the throat and voice sound better, although I'm feeling very weak.

The bummer about the sickness is that I won't be able to see Matt this weekend! :-( We had plans to meet in Knoxville on Sunday. Matt and the UVA Women's basketball team is heading there to hopefully stage a HUGE upset to the Lady Vols on Monday night. However, due to being sick, I've decided to stay in Birmingham this weekend and get better!

Matt and I are both pretty bummed that we won't be seeing each other until after my finals, but on a happy note last night was UVA women's basketball season OPENER (despite the exhibition game against DT3 last week)...Well the HOOS outdid themselves last night with a 30 point win over HIGH POINT! WA-HOO-WAH! Today is work and practice for Matt before they head out tomorrow to Knoxville. Tomorrow night Matt will be watching the Redskins whoop up on the Cowboys and then Monday is game day! I'll be spending today and tomorrow resting and knocking this cold out of my system, then another full week of classes and papers.

Hope everyone is able to stay healthy and possibly watch the Hoos on SportsSouth Monday @ 7 pm. GO HOOS!

T.G.I.F (kind of)

Thank Goodness It's Friday - well, in mine and Matt's case....we are kind-of thankful it's friday! Ha!





I'll start with Matt's friday. Tonight was the UVA Women's Basketball Teams first game. It was an exhibition game against DT3, and although the Hoos were down by 1 at the half, the game ended UVA 91 - DT3 77! Wa-hoo-wa!!!! Super exciting for those girls, who are ranked 15th!!! I'm so excited to get to see them play the defending national champs, Lady Vols, in just a few short weeks!!! So, Matt has had a long day at work - getting there around 8:30 this morning, and still working hard at JPJ at 9 pm!!! Gotta love basketball season!! :-)



My friday was more of the same - for the past 2 weeks, I've been arriving at the law school library before it is even open, working on papers and studying for the MPRE. Since then, I've finished my 15 pg. Juvenile Justice paper, turned in a 14 pg. International Intellectual Property Rough Draft (paper will eventually be about 20 pages), Put together a powerpoint presentation (26 slides) on my International Intellectual Property paper that I will present Thursday, and have taken 4 MPRE practice tests (2 hours each) along with reading MPRE outlines. Yeah, it's been a busy week, and today was no different. I was at the library by 7 am, but soon it'll be time to RELAX....specifically tomorrow around noon. Tomorrow morning at 9 am I start my MPRE exam, and hopefully before I know it it will be over. Then it is a waiting game to get my score - need a 75% to practice in Alabama and unfortunately a 85% to practice in Virginia - so have to hope for a good score, or just re-take it in March! Ha! Anyways, it's out of the blogging world and back to the books I go.

Hope everyone had a true T.G.I.F!

a new day...a new President Elect

Well, last night was "history in the making.." and I'm not talking about an African American being voted as nation's 44th President. I am just talking about the voting of Americans for their 44th President - Barack Obama. It doesn't matter his race, because it was history in the making no matter what - a new president elect is always "history in the making." (Am I the only one that see that?) I do think it does say a lot for the American public, how far they have come, that an African American will become the leader of the US in the new year. However, I can only hope people voted on politics rather than race, because if they voted on race, it is sad where our country still remains racially.

I can say that the man I voted for did not win the election. I can also say I did not cry, I did not speak out in anger, I did not make an angry or rude facebook status, this is democracy in action. I am not the only American voting. He did however give one of the best concession speeches I have ever heard. And I couldn't agree more with him, we as a nation (no matter who we voted) must get behind Obama, we must hope for the best. I'm not saying I agree with his political choices (let's face it, if I did I would've voted for him), but it is his job now to do what is the best for the nation no matter the party lines.

I can say that Matt is ecstatic about the results. No only did his Presidential vote count, but Virginia went blue for first time since the state's electoral votes went to LBJ in 1964. Now, that's even more history! I can say I wasn't surprised by Virginia, but definitely was shocked that Florida went blue.

With that being said, it's a new day, a new President Elect, and whether you voted for him or not, you are still an American and life will go on....(unless you've already moved to Mexico, Australia, or Canada)! So here's hoping everyone enjoys their day (especially if you are having beautiful weather like Birmingham where it is 78 and beautiful outside - crazy...this is November)!

Politically divided

It's finally here....you know what I'm talking about.....ELECTION DAY...it's a day where instead of racing off to work or school you take time first to head to the polls.

Kelly's voting experience:

I drove to Gadsden last night after my LOPM class and meeting with my professor and group partner, Robby. I stayed at my parents house and woke up this morning to leave for my polling location. I arrived at 6:50 - 10 minutes before the doors even opened. I thought that was plenty of time - I was wrong. Parking was non-existent, so I parked in the grass next to the building. Then I walked to where the end of the line was - as it started at the door and weaved throughout the parking lot. Then I waited. Then finally, with my id checked, my name checked off the list, and my ballot in hand I VOTED! I PROUDLY VOTED FOR JOHN MCCAIN! As I placed my ballot in the machine, a number read 110. Can you believe that? I was already the 110th voter at my polling place. It was absolutely unbelievable to me. I took my "I VOTED" sticker and placed it proudly on my shirt. I then left the polling location - this took a while as cars were backed up trying to get in the parking lot - picked up Molly from my parents house and headed to Birmingham for today's classes.

Matt's voting experience:

Matt's polling location opened at 6:30 - so he was there bright-eyed and bushy tailed. He too waited his turn in line and the PROUDLY VOTED FOR BARACK OBAMA! Matt told me this morning that the individuals who were working the polling location were already shocked by the number of people and had stated that this will surpass any other voter turn out in Charlottesville history. This is important because Virginia is a "swing" state - and no matter how individuals are voting, it is phenomenal to see people getting involved. Matt was lucky that his polling place was not the main location downtown because as he drove by after voting at his location, he saw ridiculously long lines circling the other location. Matt then proceeded to McDonald's for breakfast and off to work.

So we have fulfilled our civic duty and although Matt and I are politically divided, we wanted to take a minute to encourage each and everyone of you to go out and VOTE!

SEC and ACC Football....baby yeah!!!!

It's official....I've been to my very first (and hopefully not my last) SEC football game!!!! Yesterday Robby took me to watch the ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves.  It was an absolute BLAST! Not to mention a shut out...35-0!

I met Robby at his house around 9:10 am and we were on our way to Tuscaloosa!  We got there with plenty of time for Robby to give me a tour of his undergraduate institution.  It was great! We started with a walk to the Paul W. Bryant museum.  It was pretty awesome to see all things Bama - and with it being homecoming and a packed house, you couldn't help but get in the ROLL TIDE spirit!  We then headed for the student center - and passing through the quad on our way.

The chimes were right there - and at the foot of them the captains of the football team (past and present) put their cleat and hand print in the cement.  Joe Namath - cleat print and hand print - AMAZING! I've never seen tailgating like SEC tailgating! It was phenomenal....seas of tents - I mean numerous - thousands...each one with yummy food and oh yeah at least 1 if not 2 flat-screen televisions playing other football games.  There were families playing football, there were blow-up things for kids to play in, there was spirit EVERYWHERE! It really was like a sea of crimson and white. Loved it! 

At the student center we went straight for the bookstore - where I picked up my very own ALABAMA HOMECOMING 2008 long-sleeve t-shirt! Love it! Then it was a little Starbucks while we watching the opening half of Auburn game with hundreds of other people in the student center.  Soon it was time to walk to the stadium with 92,000 of my new closest friends.  

We scored and got to hear the band playing on their march to the stadium.  The are called the Million Dollar Band - and I now know why - they ROCKED!  Did I mention Robby is Million Dollar Band Alumni?  The stadium was amazing - with statues outside it - of course my favorite was the BEAR (I absolutely love the houndstooth...so cute).  I scored a picture of the statute in between the line up of 10 to get a picture with it! 

The we got into the stadium.  It was 45 minutes before the game started and I'm pretty sure they were the fastest 45 minutes ever.  We got to watch both teams warm up, I finally got to taste DREAMLAND bbq (on nachos of course), and we got to hear the band.  Then, it was pre-game!  The Million Dollar Band spelling out BAMA on the field...then the live footage of Nick Saban leading his team from their locker room to the field.  

4 quarters went by in a flash (although I was all over pictures of the score board), but it was a blast and still left ALABAMA undefeated this season!

Now, it's back to Birmingham - 1 paper down, 2 to go and the MPRE exam on Saturday.

Matt's weekend was also filled with football, albeit ACC and not really the same glorious outcome that I watched.  Unfortunately, Miami came back and stunned UVA in overtime.  However, Matt's fraternity brothers were in town, so I'm sure they drowned their sorrows on the Corner last night! Still impressed with those HOOS this season.

Sidenote:  Another team I'm impressed by - my BAYLOR BEARS! The Bears almost beat the Missouri Tigers - tied 28-28 with a little over 2:00 minutes in regulation - amazing and icing on the cake as it was Baylor's homecoming...Although the Tigers kicked a field goal winning 31-28 with just minutes in regulation left - all I can say is SIC'EM BEARS! I'm so proud!