Quick photo update…
That’s how it looks outside my office — should be green by this afternoon!
That extension ladder is one of the many reasons that I am not doing this myself!
The back wall in the kitchen is a darker color — looks awesome!
Fireplace has the darker color as well. The ceiling is painted as well — a much lighter color of the paint though. There is Paul the painter in action on the left — he rocks!
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Julie is notorious for painting / redecorating. In fact, I counted at least two budding painting projects when I was over there Saturday, as evidenced by the multi-colored walls in their living room. I was giving her a hard time about this one day and she retorted, “Well, at least I don’t live in the Cream Castle!!!”
LOL … Ouch!
Well, Cream Castle no longer, because we are painting!
Now, realize that when I say “we” I mean Paul the painter, that we hired… but you knew that, right?
It looks really good — and he is painting the ceiling too — it looks way cool! Best thing… Paul the painter (as he goes by) does it all — takes down pictures and other wall hangings, moves all the furniture, covers it all up, etc., etc., and then puts it all back when he is done. Awesome!!
Stay tuned for pictures once it is completed, sometime towards the end of this week.
FYI — Julie has seen the preview pics and given her seal of approval!
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On the way up to Austin I had lunch with my Mom at Bever’s Kitchen in Chappell Hill. If you are ever in the area I would highly recommend stopping — it’s really good! Somehow we had never been to this place before - probably because my mom usually cooks! But we both enjoyed a great chicken fried chicken with fried bell peppers - yum! It was good to take some time to catch up as well.
Natalie made time for me on Friday for lunch — fun!
We went to the Moonshine Grill — it was really good! Nat had sent me some reviews of the place and every one of them said that you have to try the Corn Dog Shrimp (at the top of the Starters list there on the left) — we did and they were outstanding!
Nat Batt (Glowka) all businessed up for work!
I called it a day around 3pm or so to head down to the pool. I had forgotten to bring any books, so I made a quick trip to Bookstop just a few miles away (thanks Garmin!) and picked up Lifeguard by James Patterson and The Picasso Flop by Vince Van Patton - both for just $5 (and yes, both hardcover, of course!)
Woohoo — poolside beverages!!
Carrie joined me for a bit in between her classes ending and her final reception later that night.
We joined Natalie and Marshall for a great dinner at Sullivan’s later that night.
A nice bottle of Simi Cabernet that Natalie picked out for us (she is quite the oenophile having worked in the hotel catering / event business for a while!)
“More wine please!”
The Glowkas.
Us!
Saturday morning - a “quick” trip to the University Co-op. Apparently it had changed a LOT since Carrie had been there last, including the erection of a parking garage - we took this photo from the 3rd floor of the garage.
We spent quite a bit of time in the co-op getting all sorts of UT gear — I got a nice UT shirt and some shorts for summer officiating and Carrie got a slew of stuff. Very cool! She was so excited to be back on campus.
While Carrie was busy trying on some new UT gear I saw this shirt and we both agreed that we had to get it for Jack… See this post of Brendan, Jack, and Hallie doing the “If you mess with the bull, you get the horns!” pose… LOL
This may be the only burnt orange in the Lyons household (definitely not the only orange shirt as many photos of Brendan can prove) - and Julie has agreed that she will let Jack wear the shirt… We got Hallie and Kendall some mostly-neutral (non burnt orange) shirts as well (we know better than to come bearing gifts for just one kid!) … photos forthcoming I’m sure, right Bren and Jules?
Looking forward to seeing Jack wear this shirt around Kerber as it is will put her on life tilt because she only loves maroon!
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I’m in Austin right now with Carrie as she goes to school. More on that later… Here’s some of what has been going on the past week or so…
I headed down to midtown with Rhino and Matt and Kendall Tucker last Friday. Rob Trevino and his brother joined us as well… Then I texted Arnold, who lives down there, to come over and have a beer… Here is us playing darts — after Matt challenged me, in order to try to make up some of his lifetime losses to me at various games!
Unfortunately, as you can tell by this picture, I am not very good. Nice grouping though! Yeah, I lost.
Kendall wanted to go to IHOP afterwards and no one argued with her!
Carrie’s been toolin’ around in the Denali like she is a soccer mom or something.
Of course, she has to park FAR away from everyone… Trust me, this is good for us and the Lyons (it’s their car that they left with us while they were in Switzerland)
Carrie getting in a little relaxation at Black Walnut in the Woodlands before heading off to Austin on Sunday.
I caught up with Carrie on Wednesday evening. I drove up to Austin and went by the Omni to see Natalie, then headed for some drinks and then dinner with Tara and Carrie. Tara is in Carrie’s MBA program with her and was a good friend of Natalie’s in high school — although they hadn’t seen each other in over TEN years! Wow!! Tara is hilarious and fun and I could totally see how she and Natalie were friends!
I stopped by the Four Seasons with Natalie on our way to get drinks and dinner… Apparently for $5 you can just tell the valet to put your bags in anyone’s room because I just dropped them off, told him my wife had already checked in, and my bags ended up in Carrie’s room!
My office setup at the Four Seasons.
Carrie has been wiped out! She took a little nap last night before dinner.
We headed over to Threadgill’s as Carrie was craving a veggie plate.
Eggs Benedict! YUM!!! My plan is to be on the way back to Houston before Carrie gets the room service bill!!!
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Not a very good day for referees: Donaghy pleaded guilty to betting on games he officiated.
I’m so looking forward to this season and the genius comments that we are sure to endure from fans, players and coaches… Well, the latter two I doubt we will endure too much without generating a response that involves the letter “T” 
I don’t have much to say about the situation other than that I was completely astonished when the news broke. Once I read the articles about Donaghy, the FBI’s involvement, and how long the investigation had been going on I knew that there was no hope that it wasn’t true. The NBA wouldn’t let that information get to the press unless there wasn’t a shred of doubt that the allegations were true.
I was astonished because in the twelve years that I have been officiating, working at the Division I level and below, and having friends and associates at every level including the NBA, I have never once heard anything about gambling even insinuated. No one would consider joking about betting on any game, let alone one that you are working. Further, I have never heard of an official swaying a game one way or another — not to get back at a coach, or because he dislikes a team for some reason, or anything. Never. Not once.
Unfortunately, in this business we are all lumped together. When I don the stripes in November I might as well be Tim Donaghy as far as the fans are concerned. They will see us all as crooked for a long time — this incident only adds fuel to their already stoked fire.
Officiating is a business where perception is not only greater than reality, it is reality. And our perception is going to be damaged for quite a while.
Update: The Smoking Gun has posted Donaghy’s guilty plea - interesting read
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