The Stoops Era Begins

Happy Birthday Levi!

Great Trip to WHOOK!

The Thanksgiving Jar - A West Tradition

Here's how it works. Post something you're thankful for throughout the day on Thanksgiving via the comment section and I will add your note in the jar. As new notes are added, more notes will show up in the jar. See how it works? The tradition started when the kids were small. We would put a jar on the counter on Thanksgiving morning and as thoughts of things we were thankful for would pop in our heads, we would put a note in the jar. Then we would pull all the notes out at the end of the day and read them. We have much for which to be thankful!

Free-Will Thing Keeps Disappointing God

From Leonard Pitts Jr. Miami Herald Columnist. He won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 2004.

I threw down the newspaper in disgust. God, who was sitting in the recliner next to mine watching the baseball playoffs, glanced over.

"Relax," He said, "the campaign will be over in a few days." "It's not that," I said. "Then what?" I handed God the newspaper. He put on his reading glasses and spent a few minutes studying the page. Finally, He shook His head.

"Oh," He said as he laid the paper aside. "'Oh?' Is that all you can say? Didn't you read the story? These rebels in Uganda, they're kidnapping children and forcing them to be soldiers and sex slaves! It says here they've killed 100,000 people, displaced 1.6 million over the last 18 years. Doesn't that bother you?"

 "It bothers me," said God. "I would think so. Especially since ... " God arched His brow. "Especially since what?"

It took me a second to gather my courage. "Especially since they're doing it in your name," I said finally. "It's bad enough they call themselves the Lord's Resistance Army, but did you see this part here? According to the United Nations, these monsters say they're kidnapping kids in order to set up a new government based on the Ten Commandments."

"They forgot No. 8," said God. "Beg pardon?" "No. 8," said God. "'Thou shalt not steal.' Also No. 6, of course. 'Thou shalt not kill."'

"Why don't you stop them then? Send a plague. Destroy the rebels." "Is that what you think I should do?" "You weren't shy about it in the Old Testament." God sighed. "You send a little too much rain one time and they never let you forget." "It's not funny!" To my surprise, I shouted it. "You're angry with me," said God. I swallowed hard. "I guess I am. It shouldn't be this way. It doesn't have to be."

"Well, we agree there." "Then make it stop. You could." "I could," He agreed. "Maybe I will. But it will just start again somewhere else. You know that, don't you? That's the problem with that free will thing I gave you all."

"Yeah, yeah," I said. "We can choose to do right or we can choose to do wrong. I know all about that."

"Don't give me 'yeah, yeah,"' God said sternly. "And for the record, that's not what I meant. What I'm saying is that you people, you're all like that Jim Carrey fellow in that 'Bruce' movie. You all think you can be a better God than I can. Some awful thing happens to you, or some bad person isn't instantly struck down by lightning bolts and you figure it must be because God is slipping. You figure he needs your help.

 "So you decide to play God. And you use my name to sanction your meanest and most narrow impulses, like I'm a moral Get Out of Jail Free card or something. You say you're doing my will, then you steal babies and make war. You say you're doing what God said, then you kill one other. I told you to 'love' one other. How do you get from 'love' to 'kill?"'

"But how are we supposed to have faith in you when you let so many bad things happen?" I asked.

"I could ask you the same question," said God. "You know why I gave you free will? I wanted you to surprise yourselves sometimes. Surprise me, too. I knew you'd do things that disappointed me, but I thought you'd make me proud more often. I thought you would find more opportunities to do good. Instead, you find opportunities to break my heart.

 "And yet I keep giving you chances, don't I? Keep giving you sunrises, keep giving you babies, keep giving you breath, waiting for you to surprise me."

I picked up the paper and looked at the awful story again. "Lord, have mercy," I said.

God gave me a wan smile. "I know," He said. "You think it's hard believing in me? Think how I feel, trying to believe in you."

Sad But True

as posted by Clay West via facebook...thanks

There is a point beyond which they must not advance.

as posted by Rick West via facebook in honor of Veterans Day - thanks

RIP Neil Armstrong

Serving as the mission's commander, for Apollo 11, Armstrong piloted the Lunar Module to the moon's surface on July 20, 1969.  The American astronaut  made "one giant leap for mankind" when he became the first man to walk on the moon. He died 08/25/12.

I believe that the Good Lord gave us a finite number of heartbeats and I'm damned if I'm going to use up mine running up and down a street.

– Neil Armstrong

 

I Love Sports

The Calipari Era Updated

I Like This Story

June Visit From WHOOK

Listen closely at 29 seconds

Is Gracie a Nova Scotia Duck Toller Retriever?

Check out this video of a Duck Toller and then the photos of Gracie. Is she a Duck Toller? We have had at least 3 strangers ask us if she is. Two vets have told told us they thinks she's a mix-breed. We never asked the vets if they thought she was a Duck Toller though. Seems like if they knew what a Duck Toller was, they would have said something. I'll probably ask next time I take her in.  What do you think? We think we're ready to tell people she's a Duck Toller. (Please, no comments on which dog is trained better.) DUCK TOLLER PHOTOS

I'll Have Another (Win)

Andrew, winner of the March Madness brackets, wins another one with the horse he knew nothing about and did not pick - I'll Win Another. A BIG congratulations from the rest of us in the field!

And for the record, Rick's horse, Daddy Long Legs, finished last. ORDER OF FINISH

The Picks - Derby 2012 - Post Time 6:24est on NBC

The Picks:
MEET THE HORSES
Rick - Daddy Long Legs and Creative Cause
Mike - Union Rags and Bodemeiser
Lyndsey - Liaison and Take Charge Indy
Kate - Optimizer and Dullahan
Debbie - Gemologist and Perspective
Jack - Sabercat and Rousing Sermon
Luke - El Padrino
Andrew - I'll Have Another
Levi - Alpha
Mary - Done Talking
Kacey - Daddy Nose Best
Justin - Went The Day Well
Clay - Trinniberg
Ted - Hansen

The West Family KY Derby Sweepstakes 2012!

The 138th running of the Kentucky Derby is this Saturday, May 5th. You can GO HERE to learn all about the KY Derby. I need to to know if you would like to participate. The sweepstakes is only open to "The Fam." (which includes extended Fam) I will be randomly putting the entries into a hat with randomly assigned numbers. Mary & I will then draw numbers alphabetically by the first name of each participant until all horses have been chosen. You could possibly have more than 1 horse to cheer on to the finish line! Please comment below if you would like to be included and stay tuned for updates. The field should be ready to go by Thursday of this week. Yours truly had last year's winner - Animal Kingdom. The winner gets a big congratulations from the rest of us!

Welcome To This World Jack West Cornell!

8lbs - 11 oz and 20 inches of toughness entered the world at 11:50am on Saturday April 21st and he is ready to take it on! Welcome Jack!!!

A Lesson On Patience

A NYC Taxi driver wrote: I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware. 'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.' 'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?' 'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.. 'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice. I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. 'What route would you like me to take?' I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired.Let's go now'. We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. 'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse. 'Nothing,' I said 'You have to make a living,' she answered. 'There are other passengers,' I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly. 'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.' I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life.. I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk.What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

"The Road to Gr8ness"

UK Students Celebrate

# 8!!!!!!!! Best quote in the clip. "One of the all-time shockers. Lehigh defeats Duke!!"

Thank You Anthony Davis!

Davis' Trophy Case:
Naismith Trophy
John R. Wooden Award
AP Player of the Year
Oscar Robertson Trophy
Adolph Rupp Award
Basketball Times Player of the Year
SEC Player of the Year (coaches and AP)
SEC Freshman of the Year (coaches)
SEC Newcomer of the Year (AP)
SEC Defensive Player of the Year (coaches)
Sporting News National Player of the Year
Wayman Tisdale Award
Pete Newell Big Man of the Year
NABC Defensive Player of the Year
USBWA All-America first team
NABC All-America first team
AP All-America first team
Wooden All-America
CBS Sports National Player of the Year
and all around great person!!

Great Trip To Oklahoma!

Thank you Justin and Kacey!