10 is the new 12

Reasons I love our new conference:

1. 9 conference football games every year.
2. 18 game round robin in basketball every year.
3. No more Nebraska game.
4. No more Nebraska fans.
5. No more Colorado game.
6. No more Colorado fans.
7. The end of North vs. South silliness.
8. No more arguments about easy schedules. If K-State goes undefeated, people will be forced to take notice.
9. Extra heated rivalries this year - Nebraska v. Texas, Colorado v. Texas, Missouri v. Nebraska.
10. Overall conference strength in basketball. Two games vs. Baylor. Two games vs. Texas. Two games vs. A&M.

See you later, Nebraska and Colorado. Though it will be weird without you, I look forward to having a new reason to watch Big 10 (12) and Pac 10 (11) games.

Now A&M seals our fate?

Texas expected to commit to Big 12 with hope of saving conference

The rumors of the death of the Big 12 may have been greatly exaggerated. Texas will commit to staying in the conference, according to Orangebloods.com.

School officials could announce their decision as early as Monday. The other nine teams remaining after the departure of Colorado and Nebraska could also stay to create a 10-team league.

The smaller league actually could be an incentive to stay. In a story by the Kansas City Star, the revenue from a new television contract being touted by commissioner Dan Beebe could produce "significantly more" than $17 million for each of the 10 remaining Big 12 schools.

In a concession to Texas, schools get an unequal distribution of television revenue and have the opportunity to develop its own network.

The lone question is whether Texas A&M will choose to keep its affiliation with the Big 12 or opt to join the SEC. That would be the final piece to saving the Big 12.

Should the Aggies leave the conference, then it is likely Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State would join the Pac-10.

"As (athletic director) Bill Byrne and I have said on several occasions, our desire was for the Big 12 Conference to continue," Texas A&M R. Bowen Loftin said in a statement Sunday evening. "With the departure of two universities from the conference last week, the Big 12 is certainly not what it was.

"We are aggressively exploring our options, one of which is for the Big 12 to continue in some form. We have also had extensive discussions with other conferences over the past two days. We continue to evaluate our options in a deliberate manner as we work toward a decision that is in the best long-term interests of Texas A&M."

Lilith Fair

Last week I fulfilled a lifelong dream. I bought tickets to Lilith Fair. In July, Steven and I will skip off to Kansas City for an afternoon of female pop fest before heading to Mexico for Hailey's wedding. This summer just keeps getting better.

In honor of my momentous accomplishment, I am sharing one of my favorite new singers (and Lilith performer), Meaghan Smith. I first fell in love with her cover of the Pixies' hit "Here Comes Your Man" on the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack. Turns out she makes weird music videos, and has two albums worth of catchy old as new pop. Check it out.

Idoloonie

It's hard to imagine loving any American Idol contestant more than I love Kris Allen.

And now he has a new cover of "Let it Be" on iTunes. Buy it in the next 24 hours and the proceeds go to Haiti. My new goal is to convince the music world that he should do an entire album of Beatles covers. His version of "Come Together" is one of my favorite songs. Join me in my quest, and watch this season of American Idol on mute. Blech.

New homes

Eisenhower hall is my new work home. (Betsy, call me if you get lost. You don't have to follow the kids with long hair.) Slowly but surely, I am working my way through campus to the holy grail of Hale Library. I have now worked in Fairchild, Anderson and Eisenhower. Just one more building between me and sweet freedom. Here's to hoping I can skip over Holton.

So... long story short - the job I applied for back in November called me two weeks ago and offered me the position. Apparently the lady that they hired has to move back to Oklahoma so they came calling. Opportunity never knocks when it's supposed to. So far my career keeps twisting and turning in the strangest ways. I'm 75% done with a masters in Library Science and still wondering if I should have gone the College Student Personnel route. Though I seem to be getting work without it, so who knows. It is clearly taking on a life of it's own.

This is my last week at the ELP. It's so bittersweet. I've left jobs before, but this was my first big kid, full-time, benefits and responsibility position. Because of everything that was going on when I was hired and when I started, I feel like my ELP family really brought me back to life. Sweet, crazy, baffling ELP. I will miss you even more as the memory fades of all the ridiculous and tedious things that I did everyday. Hindsight is beautiful.

***

Since all this change is coming, I decided it was finally time to figure out my living situation. Steven and I have been looking and falling in and out of love with houses for a month, and then Friday afternoon it all came together. It's a little red house with a yard, garage, washer/dryer, dishwasher, big living room, study and wood floors. Perfection. We're even within walking distance to campus and Dara's. All that walking will be negated by a huge spike in slushie consumption. It can't be helped. Our landlord is a real estate agent, and I'm hoping that if we continue to love the house we can buy it in a year. Of course, that sounds an awful lot like a life plan, and we all know how well that works these days. But I'll keep optimistically moving forward. The only downside is that we move in April 1st, which means that for the second Easter in a row I'll be in Manhattan instead of Garden City. There's always a catch.

Next morning perspective

My love for the Carriage House has faded.

Which leaves my heart open for this adorable bungalow. Redirect your vibes, please.

House hunting

I'm in love with this house.

The odds are stacked against us, but it feels meant to be. Send out good vibes if you agree.