HOW SWEET IT IS!!!

SWEET 16 here we come!!! As you probably already know the VOLS survived their first 2 games in the NCAA tourney. They were exciting, but I am way too old for exciting. Now we are off to Charlotte, N.C. and the games there do not get any easier. We play Louisville on Thursday night 9:57 p.m. eastern time. If we would win that we will more than likely play UNC, what a handful. But as we know anything can happen this time of year. My head is spinning with all the hoopla going on around Jason. He is the "Scout" as far as the Tennessee people are concerned, they said they always feel better when it is his "scout". The man definitely knows what he is doing.

Zach came to the Sunday game and brought 2 of the coaches from Alcorn State. Ernest the head coach we already knew but he introduced us to Dion. They are very nice men and we are so thankful Zach is working with them. Peija and Joah couldn't wait for Uncle Zach to get there.

Please wish us luck as we take on the Louisville Cardinals. GO VOLS!!!

PONDERING A GAME PLAN MAYBE?

Maybe discussing the seeding for the tournament?

OFF TO THE NCAA's

Well, this is it, the VOLS got a #2 seed and are off to Birmingham, AL to play American University on Friday at 12:15 Eastern time. We will be leaving on Thursday morning. Can't wait to get there and see the grandbabies and watch those VOLS play some ball.

Great article on VolQuest about Jason. A very long and complimentary article on his ability to breakdown film and figure out the opponent and ways of stopping them. It is truly his gift from God. The man knows what he is doing and the article attests to that. Coach Pearl even says he has a "special gift".

Zach is going to meet us there so it will be wonderful to see him and get some pictures of him that I can post as well.

Well, off to Birmingham!!!! Cheer for those VOLS!! GO VOLS, GOOD OLD ROCKY TOP!!!!!

HEARTBREAKING LOSS ~ BIG WIN

Today the VOLS lost by 1 (90-91) in the SEC tournament to Arkansas. It was a great game but a crummy outcome. We have probably lost our #1 seed in the NCAA tourney but we'll take a #2 and deal with it. Hopefully this will make us really hungry in the tournament. GO VOLS!!!

On the upside the Clemson Tigers beat Duke by 4 in the ACC tournament, they will play North Carolina for the championship. GO TIGERS we'll be cheering for you. Hats off to Coach Purnell!!!!!










A past Clemson player!!!

NEW JERSEY HERE HE COMES

WHOOPEE!!! Today was "Match Day" for Beau and he got the New Jersey residency he had hoped for!!!! He will be moving there in June and will start his residency in July. Congrats son we are so proud of you!!! Jen plans on moving with him and finishing her schooling out there. She has talked to different schools and they see no problem with her getting into their master's program. She already has a year under her belt and then plans on getting her doctorate.

CUTTING DOWN NETS & SANDY BEACHES

The VOLS finished out their regular season with a 89-56 win over South Carolina. They waited until today to celebrate their outright winning of the SEC league. They start the SEC tournament on Friday at 1:00 eastern. The tournament actually starts on Thursday but they don't play until Friday.

Zach is vacationing in Naples, FL. enjoying the sunny beaches and I'm sure whatever else goes along with it. A vacation that is well deserved and one that he needs. Enjoy son!!

OH WHAT A DAY & NIGHT

Beau Shay took his final boards yesterday. A weight off of his shoulders, the big weight will come off when he gets the results. Please keep him in your prayers that he did well. Thanks.

The VOLS did it again. They came back from a 16 pt. deficit to beat Florida last night 89-86. The won the SEC title outright, 1st time in 41 years. Congratulations to players and coaches alike. Coach Shay got into a little confrontation with Coach Shyatt (Beau's old coach from Clemson) from Florida and they both got T'd up, so no free-throws were involved. Shyatt was talking to our players and Jason proceeded to tell him not to do that. I'm sure the verbiage was obviously heated.

QUICK TRIP TO TENNESSEE

Made a quick trip to Tennessee this weekend to attend the VOLS vs. Kentucky game. We pulled out a 3 pt. victory. But a win is a win and we'll take it. We left Friday night after work, got there at 1:00 in the morning and got home at midnight Sunday night. I'm way too old for that kind of trip. But it was well worth it to see my grandchildren, oh, and Jason and Jana too.

Was shocked when we got there to find out my sister and brother-in-law were there too. Jason and Jana didn't even know they were coming. Some friends of J & J had hid them out and we were invited to the friend's house for dinner and when we got there, there they were. Jim surprised Debbie and flew her down there to see Jason's game because she had said she wanted to go to one this season. It was fun having them there.

WHOPPEE CLEMSON TIGERS!!!

Of course we still root for those Clemson Tigers!! They were down last night to Maryland in the 2nd half by 20, came back tied the game and won on a 3 point shot!!! Yeah CLEMSON TIGERS!!!! Good for Coach Purnell, he was so nice to Beau.

#1 For Awhile ~ Arizona & My Grandbabies

Well as you probably all know we DID BEAT Memphis and became #1 in the polls but then turned around on Tuesday and lost to Vandy. Hopefully the boys will bounce back from this and put it into high gear for the tournament. GO VOLS!!!

We had a fabulous time in Arizona. It was so nice to get away from the cold. Platinum treated us like royalty. A different gift was waiting for us in our room every night when we got back. I couldn't wait to get back to the room each night.

We went to the botanical gardens and it was so neat to see all the different cacti and how they flower. Our guide was a very nice looking older man ~ hubba hubba.

And the awards dinner is always fun because you really get to dress up and act all important ~ haha. It was a grand time, but never long enough.

Here are a couple new pics of our grandkids. We are leaving for Tennessee on Friday after work and going down for the Kentucky game on Sunday at noon and driving back after the game so we can be to work on Monday. Wish us luck, we are way too old for this kind of thing but we need a grandchild fix really bad. And of course we want to see those VOLS!

BIG DAY FOR THE SHAY'S

Well tomorrow is a "Big Day" for the Shay family. John and I fly out at 6:00 am (that's right 6 am) for Scottsdale AZ. Warmth here we come!!! I can't wait, I'm sooooooooo tired of being cold.

And of course the "Big Game" is tomorrow. GO VOLS!!!! Let's beat those Memphis Tigers. Zach is going to support his brother. As a matter of fact he is on his way to Memphis as I write this.

I'll let you know how our trip went when get back along with pictures. Take care ya'all.

SWEET #2

The Tennessee VOLS got their highest ranking yet, #2 in the nation!!!!! Whoppee what a season. Let's keep it going boys!!

The VOLS take on the Memphis Tigers this Saturday at Memphis, 8:00 p.m. central time on ESPN. Memphis of course is ranked #1, so it should be a great matchup 1 vs 2.

Please root for those VOLS, it is going to be a very tough game but hopefully we can come out on top.

GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!

Grandkids videos

I was just playing with how to download videos on this site and I figured it out. Here are 2 videos I recorded when we were at the NCAA tournament in March of 2007. These are 2 of my favorites. The innocence of children, there is nothing like it.

Joah in the swimming pool

Peija & Joah swimming

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JASON SHAY

Today is Jay Shay's birthday, it seems like yesterday he was just a little boy. It was a wonderful day then and he has made us proud every day since. Enjoy your day son!!!

Those VOLS won again on Wednesday over Arkansas. I could rest a little easier this time they won by 22.

My sweet babies Peija & Joah called us last night to thank Papa and me for the Valentines Day gifts. What precious children and how sweet they were in thanking us. Joah always talks to me awhile but then wants Papa to talk about baket-ball (somehow the "s" is missing). He loves when Papa plays with him. Peija sounds so grown-up, I hate it. She was telling me about her party at school. We love you both soooooooo very much.

Zach is apartment hunting and getting ready for the Spring game. College football never ends, there is always something to keep you busy. It is nice when all of your hard work pays off in the fall. It is nerve-racking when your future lies in the hands of 18, 19 & 20 year old kids.

Beau is doing an externship at Cook County Hospital right now. He was there for a month last summer and enjoyed it. He is getting ready for his last time of boards next month. Beau and Jen are keeping busy with her basketball season and with all their friends in the Chicago area.

John and I leave next Saturday Feb. 23rd for Scottsdale AZ. John won the trip through his job. We are so looking forward to getting out of this cold weather for awhile. It is always nice when it is on someone elses money too.

Lastly, our thoughts and prayers go out to those families who lost loved ones in the NIU shootings. They go out as well to the students who witnessed such horror. We pray that God watches over all of us in these times of such turmoil in our world.

MOVIN' ON UP

The VOLS moved up in the rankings yesterday to 4th place. They had wins last week over Florida and LSU. The LSU game was really scary, they won on a last few seconds steal and layup. Zach was able to go to this game so that was nice for the 2 brothers. Wednesday (Feb. 13th) they play Arkansas, Jason's scout again. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

This Friday Feb. 15th is Jason Shay's birthday!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON, WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SIGNING DAY, A HUGE WIN & A BIRTHDAY!!!

Today February 6th is "Signing Day" for college football, so needless to say it is a busy day for Zach. They will have a party at a resturant to announce the class of 2008. It is an exciting day for young men all over the country who have committed to colleges of their choice. It is also an exciting day for the "Recruiting Coordinator."

Last night the VOLS had a huge win against Florida 104-82. It was really a close game up until the end and then the VOLS just exploded. Chris Loften had 26 pts., JaJuan Smith 23 and Tyler Smith 23. This was Jason's scout, we love when they win when it is his scout. He only has 6 of the last 10 games left. It is definitely his forte.

Yesterday February 5th was my birthday and oh what a birthday it was. My family and friends made it extra special. My friends at work (Mary, Joanie, Peggy, Diane, April, Lindsey, JoAnne, Mary Ann and Darlene) put together the most fantastic luncheon for me and were way too generous with their gifts. Thank you so much girls!! And to top the day off Mary & Joanie took me to Applebees for supper. I wish John could have been here but work calls. He definitely made up for it with gifts.

BIG WINS, RECRUITING, FUN IN CHICAGO & DINNER WITH FRIENDS

The VOLS are still going strong, on Tuesday 1/29 they beat Alabama and yesterday 2/2 they beat Mississippi State. Both were road wins which is always a plus. They are now 19-2, one win away from that magical number 20 to go the "Big Dance."

Zach has been all over recruiting. He has been to Georgia (his old stomping grounds), Tennessee and all over the state of Mississippi. He has commitments from quite a few players and is pleased with his results. We hope it turns into big points come Fall.

Beau is home from New Jersey. He had a good experience out East. Jen was glad he was back in Chicago. Beau & Jen teamed up with Aunt Debbie, Uncle Jim, Nathan & Carly this weekend and had a great time. They all went to Jen's game and then celebrated the win all night long.

John and I had a good weekend, we went to dinner with friends Mary & Gary Buckingham on Friday and watched the VOLS on Saturday and of course today is the Super Bowl. A simple life but one that us old folks really enjoy!!

We miss and love you Peija Lee and Joah Thomas!!!!!

Have a good week one and all!!!!

GETTIN' READY FOR THE "BIG DANCE"

CAN'T WAIT UNTIL FALL!!!!!!

TAKING CARE OF FEET

DINING WITH FRIENDS