Beautiful Sunset in Cannon Beach at Haystack Rock on the Oregon Coast

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Cranes symbolizing peace in the World Trade Center memorial.

Kenny headed out to Alaska to watch the annual Iditarod sled race.

Each year, there is a Reindeer Run during the Opening Ceremonies at the Iditarod in Alaska.

Frozen ocean along the scenic Seward Highway in Alaska.

We watched them peel off the decal for Super Bowl XLV at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

The aftermath of the Super Bowl. The stadium the day after the Packers won.

Kenny went to the LA Dodgers Spring Training in Arizona. Here’s a peek at Matt Kemp.

Ethier signing autographs for the fans during Spring Training.

We watched VCU upset Kansas to make it to the Final Four.

The face of Kentucky during their Final Four game against UCONN.

We watched UCONN beat Kentucky and head to the finals where they took the championship!

We were in Vancouver to watch them celebrate a Canucks win (before the riots after their final loss!)

Ken’s last night working at Uchi in Austin.

Our first real stop on the trip was Zion National Park in Utah.

Dog jumping contest at Soldier Hollow in Midway, UT.

Beautiful wolves in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.

Our drive through Wyoming and Montana was filled with beautiful American bison.

Insane Clown Posse comes to Missoula, Montana.

Peaceful fly fishing in Glacier National Park in Montana.

Kenny played the famed floating green at the course at the Coeur d’Alene Resort in Idaho.

Beautiful Japanese Gardens in Portland, OR.

Outstanding sunset at Cannon Beach on the Oregon coast.

Kenny played one of the top public golf courses in the U.S., Bandon Dunes in Oregon

Enjoying fresh crab on the Oregon coast.

Enjoying the Redwoods Forest.

Kenny taking in the majestic Redwoods.

Julie showing the sheer size of the Redwood trees.

We were lucky enough to enjoy lots of sunsets along the N. California coast.

Happy New Year Everyone! Thank you for following our journey!

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Tunnel leading you to the Berkeley Pit.

Berkeley Pit today amidst its cleanup.

The colors of pollution.

Thanks for a great afternoon, Butte. I wish you better days in the future.
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In the first game, the Butler Bulldogs played the upstart VCU Rams. This was a matchup of two Cinderella teams, neither of whom was expected to even win two games, let alone make it this far in the tournament. The game was never really close however, as the Bulldogs advanced to their second straight championship. A feat that very few teams have ever accomplished.

But, the real excitement started with the second game of the double-header as Julie’s hometown UConn Huskies played the Kentucky Wildcats for a chance to face Butler in the championship game on Monday night. Here is how the game unfolded.

The UConn Huskies are riding an improbable hot streak through the postseason.

Kemba Walker is the main reason why the Huskies are rolling.

Freshman Jeremy Lamb is Walker’s right-hand man.

He can shoot.

and he’s got hops… Jeremy Lamb goes over the rim.

The Huskies pre-game shoot around.

The Huskies await introductions.

The Wildcats introduction.

The Kentucky Wildcats huddle pre-game.

The Media Circus surrounding the Final Four.

Today’s game is brought to you by… the CBS announcers: Steve Kerr, Jim Nantz and Clark Kellog.

The meeting at half-court before tip-off.

The Corporate Crowd doesn’t give away who they are rooting for.

But, it’s easy to see who the fan favorite is, as Wildcat fans fill the arena.

The Wildcat Cheerleader.

The Wildcat Dances.

The game is underway. Jeremy Lamb guards Liggins at the top of the key.

If the Wildcats are to win, the young Brandon Knight must have a big game.

John Calipari and the Wildcat Bench watches the game unfold.

The Kentucky Wildcats huddle.

Kemba Walker and the Huskies start to take control of the game.

The Wildcat fans start to feel the game slipping out from under them.

The UConn Huskies feel the excitement coming on.

Is this destiny?

UConn at the line… Make it and win.

Huskies Win!

The UConn Huskies talk to the TV people.

Jim Calhoun and the Huskies.

One more game to go.

The Reliant Arena in Houston empties, as the Huskies prep for a matchup against the Butler Bulldogs.

UConn Huskies go on to win the National Championship two days later, in what will be remembered as maybe the worst final ever played. The Butler Bulldogs hardly made a shot all night, and the Huskies were not much better. However, the Huskies are the Men’s NCAA Basketball National Champions.

The Huskies started out the season winning the first tournament of the year. They had a fairly average year, but turned it back on in the Big East Championship, winning five games in five days. They continued that hot streak in the Big Dance. Kemba Walker may not have won Player of the Year, but there is no denying that he carried UConn through all of those tournaments, and his season will be remembered as one of the more remarkable single season performances in NCAA history.

Congratulations to the UConn Huskies.

I finally got to make it to the tourney, and it definitely lived up to the hype. I will be back sometime, but as of now, this is checked off of the list..

This year both the Elite 8 and Final 4 were being played in Texas, and I jumped at the chance to go. Unfortunately, my alma mater, SDSU, was eliminated by Julie’s hometown UConn Huskies.

Nonetheless, I was excited to make it to San Antonio for my first tournament game, and this one was between David and Goliath. The #1 seed Kansas Jayhawks, and the #11 seed VCU Rams, with a chance to go to the Final 4.

As the top seed, Jayhawks fans bought tickets to San Antonio ahead of time.

The Rams fans had to buy tickets at the stadium before the game.

The calm before the big game.

The mascots have a stare down.

The Jayhawks get ready in pregame.

The final stop on the road to the Final Four.

Shaka Smart calmly watches as his world changes before his eyes.

The game gets underway.

Kansas is the obvious favorite and had about five times the amount of fans in the arena.

The Jayhawks just looked like a more dominant team.

But, early on Bill Self and the Jayhawks had to worry about the upstart Rams.

Shaka Smart was so into the game, he was basically a sixth man running up and down the side.

The Rams fans knew tonight might be their night.

The Rams had a tough road, but were up to the challenge.

Kansas fans couldn’t believe they were losing to an #11 seed.

David takes down Goliath. The VCU Rams beat the Kansas Jayhawks, and advance to the Final Four.

Yes, it’s true, the Rams are going to the Final Four.

This fan couldn’t keep her feelings in as she screamed at the top of her lungs.

Shaka Smart cuts down his well deserved net.

The VCU Rams advance to the Final Four to take on another Cinderella, the Butler Bulldogs.

As a last minute decision, we drove to Houston to see the game. Check out the Photo Journal for that game..

This year, the Super Bowl just happened to be played in Dallas. It was close enough (3 hours by car) that I could drive up for the weekend despite the fact that I didn’t actually have tickets to the game. Tickets cost $700 minimum, and most were several thousands of dollars. I wanted to go, but that’s just not in my budget, not now at least.

Despite not having tickets, we went to Dallas to enjoy the festivities and take in the action from the Big Game in Big D.

The first thing we did was check out the NFL Experience.

The New Orleans Saints Cheerleaders.

Mike Sims Walker signs a football for a boy.

The following day, we went into Fort Worth to see what they had going on.

Football is king in Texas

ESPN took over Downtown Cowtown (as Fort Worth is often known).

Cameras and people. Lots of people.

The Cowboy Capitol is nice at night.

The Fort Worth Stockyards are one of the main attractions, with livestock and rodeo.

Stockyard Station.

John Wayne sporting a Stockyard t-shirt and Super Bowl jacket.

I think there is a rule that all Saturday nights must end at Billy Bob’s Honky Tonk.

And finally, Sunday came around.

Big Game for the Big Ballers.

The media was in full force for this event.

How much? For what?

Cowboys fans are representing.

True, very true.

True as well, and going for number 7.

But the Packers are pretty mean looking.

We left the stadium to watch, but returned the following day to go on a Cowboys Stadium Tour.

Taking the sign down from the stadium.

The Stadium from above.

The Packers Win!

The Cowboys locker room, which the Green Bay Packers used.

Look who called last – President Obama calls to congratulate the Packers for their win.

Super Bowl Hangover.

After spending a weekend in Dallas and Fort Worth celebrating what may be America’s biggest event, we were all football’d out, and ready to head back to Austin.

If you want to look at the entire album, check them out on Smugmug here.

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