The Day After Christmas Reality -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Post-Christmas Back to Reality

The Anderson family

While the holiday season can provide plenty of time with friends and family and time off from work, the day after Christmas can be a harsh reality. For many of us, we are back to work at the crack of dawn with no time to recover from the busy holiday. Still, it's nice to have that time off.

For me, my wife and I hosted Christmas this year. We bought our house last year but were in South Carolina for Christmas 2023, so this is the first time we were able to host. Fortunately, our house is plenty big to host my whole side of the family. Our family has dwindled down to just nine of us over the years as we have had to say goodbye to family members over the years. The only addition to the family recently was my wife after we got married last year. 

My wife's parents and brother (and their one-year-old puppy) will be traveling up here from South Carolina beginning Friday and staying with us through New Year's Eve, so we get to play host all over again. It's always a nice treat when we are able to see them for several days at a time. Puppy proofing a house will be quite the challenge. 

My grandma's favorite gift- a picture of her three grandchildren

I prefer hosting events and holidays instead of traveling elsewhere as it is nice to be home. Sleeping in may not be a thing as there is plenty of cleaning and preparation when hosting, but when everything is all over, it is nice to sit and rest after everyone is gone.

I'm not ready to get back to work yet, but we only have two days left in the standard working week this week and have a shortened week next week too with New Year's Day approaching. By this time next week, we will also see Louisville women's basketball back in action when they welcome ACC foe Miami to the KFC Yum! Center.

Cardinal Couple will be back to its regular coverage of Louisville women's athletics as they pick back up after the holiday season, but we hope all of you had a great holiday and can find some time to rest and recover in the coming days.

Happy Thursday and Go Cards!

Jared

MERRY CHRISTMAS ! - CHRISTMAS DAY

From all of us to you, 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS 

-- CARDINAL COUPLE

Silent Night

Ten Hours of Xmas Music

Paul, Sonya, Jared, Case, Jeff and Daryl

.

MERRY CHRISTMAS -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 MERRY CHRISTMAS

FROM ALL OF US TO ALL OF YOU...A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Paulie, Jeff, Case, Jared, Daryl and Sonja

Merry Christmas -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

From all of us at Cardinal Couple to all of you...

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!

HAPPY HANUKKAH !!

BLESSED KWANZAA  !!

FELIX NAVIDAD !!

THE HALLELUJAH CHORUS

PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

"Love the giver more than the gift"

Paulie, Jeff, Case, Jared, Daryl and Sonja

Merry Christmas !

From all of us at Cardinal Couple...MERRY CHRISTMAS !

Paulie, Sonya, Case, Jeff, Jared and the staff chimps of Cardinal Couple.

Second season awaits Louisville WBB -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

(As a special treat for you, we bring in David Watson for the day before Christmas CARDINAL COLUMN this morning. One of "the originals" here at the COUPLE, David follows us from the warmer climate of Florida. Although we don't hear from him as much as back in the early days, David's thoughts and reactions to UofL women's basketball are still always a good read and I appreciate him taking the time to bring us this morning's entry)!  -Paulie -

SECOND SEASON AWAITS LOUISVILLE WBB

Hey Ho ! Dave-O here! First on the agenda, I'm sincerely wishing the Cardinal Couple staff, readers and sponsors a very Merry Christmas !!

The Watson household is nestled into their beds as I write this late on Sunday night. My wife Donna and I are tickled and pleased to have all three of our children home for the Holidays. Oldest daughter Abby in from "the Big Apple" and grateful to be in "the warm" as she calls it. Son David Jr. (who actually lives across town here in Bradenton) back from three days of golf and recreation in Bermuda. Our youngest Whitney, a high school senior, enjoying her Christmas break and hasn't had a single battle or argument with her older sister yet, so it truly is the "most wonderful" time of the year, in terms of sibling rivalry. They send their best and even Flabby the Dog raises a conciliatory paw in greeting to the readership. 

Look at you, Sammi Jean !! 

By now, the UofL women's basketball squad, too, has arrived back home to their loved ones for a few days of "r&r" before they resume the season. I did wonder if Yacine Diop was able to travel home to Dakar, Senegal. If not, it is my sincerest wish she is with a teammate or stateside friendly family and enjoying the holiday while going through her ACL rehabilitation process -- as well as enjoying a few Christmas treats and traditions. From California to New Jersey, proud Cardinal WBB parents and family welcome their daughters and sisters home for a few days. 

When the women return to campus, the second season gets underway. That, of course, is ACC play. Louisville has prepared well for the arduous task ahead, creating a 12-0 record, #3 ranking in DI and a ton of excitement for Cardinal Athletics fans. From the close calls against Arizona State and Central Michigan, the triumph over in-state rival Kentucky and the various domination and successes over the other nine pre-conference foes -- the Cards are sitting up in the rare air of "teams to beat" status/location for the National Championship. The journey, so far, has gone as planned. The remainder is uphill and filled with potential hazards in that road to Greensboro. 

That trail and road to the pinnacle that awaits ahead isn't going to easy easy at all. 16 conference tests, one huge out-of-ACC encounter (with UConn) and facing a defense of their titles from the conference last season against 14 schools eager to take it from them will be akin to the last several miles of a marathon, in terms of endurance, ability and stamina.
  

Jeff Walz's Cards are one of three unbeaten teams in the ACC after non-conference play. They, along with Virginia Tech and North Carolina State remain perfect. Nipping at these threes heels are FSU and Notre Dame at 11-1. Tracking them are Miami and Syracuse with 11-2 marks. Surprising Boston College, at 10-2, has only stumbled to #13 ranked Minnesota and Providence under first-year coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee's tutelage. Georgia Tech (9-3) boasts the multiple ACC Rookie of the Week in Elizabeth Balogun. Clemson (9-4) rounds out the Top Ten in ACC standings with first-year coach Amanda Butler making an immediate impact down in the land of palmettos and boiled peanuts. 14 of the 15 in the ACC are over .500. 

Louisville tests their footing on this slippery slope when they bring the Sylvia Hatchell led North Carolina TarHeels into the KFC YUM! Center on January 3rd. At 8-5, the Chapel Hill squad has had a challenging pre-conference slate, with losses to Colorado, #18 Kentucky, Ohio State, Maine and Auburn. Dangerous with Stephanie Watts, Janelle Bailey and Paris Kea suiting up in Tar Heel blue. If you want a sneak peek at the UNC squad, they'll face Howard on December 28th., a warm-up for them before coming to the home of the Kentucky Derby. Duke and Notre Dame, both away games for Asia Durr and company, await after that. Three challenging games in a week, but, that is what the ACC is. No easy nights. No coasting. 

The crew here at the Couple will get you prepared for all of those and more as the season unwinds. I'll just take a moment to laud them, if I might. Paulie has assembled a great and varied group of columnists here at the beloved CC. Besides his writings, I enjoy Case's in-depth looks at anything he writes about. Worldwide Jeff always brings a strong column and Jared couples his skills at photography with great takes on the action he covers. Sonya, no longer involved with the writing here and assuming an administrative role, does sneak over to Louisville Rivals and covers the Cards WBB exploits there. My hat is off to all of those five. 

Can the Cards continue to count on the #1 player in college WBB -- the amazing Asia Durr? Will Dana Evans keep on with her super sophomore year? Will strong Sam Fuehring and bouncy Bionca Dunham revitalize Cardinal rebounding and paint presence? Does the dynamic Jazmine Jones have more Sportscenter Top Ten moments ahead of her in the next three months? Can Kylee Shook bring the quality minutes we've seen out of her so far? Does Arica Carter continue to lead the floor action and display her dramatically improved shooting skills? How about the fabulous freshmen off the bench -- what will the roles be for marvelous Mykasa Robinson, lights-out Lindsey Duvall and steady Seygan Robins? I'll echo Worldwide's remarks that we want to see Jess Laemmle continue to be a crowd pleaser and "take the open look, Jess"!

All will be revealed soon. 

So, in conclusion, I'd like to end by encouraging you to be vocal, be supportive and back the Louisville women's basketball squad in 2019. I'll be watching and listening from down here -- the Internet is a marvelous entity and keeps me in the loop. My pal  Joe Hill and I have a trip planned to FSU to watch UofL face the Noles there. We're talking a road trip also to Clemson. And, I do hope to get to Louisville maybe in February while I'm on the way to visit relatives in Muncie, and maybe catch the Cards against Miami down at 2nd and Main. 

  

Paulie assured me he'd add a few photos to my offerings today and I'm sure he'll come up with some sort of introductory statement for the column. I'll try to be more of a visitor here in 2019 as well. A slow-to-recover wrist has my golf game and typing skills on the disabled list lately, but -- know that I'm reading daily and cheering just as hard as you are. Give the boys and their guests a listen on The Cardinal Couple Radio Hour too! This Saturday Morning romp is an hour well-spent and seeing them on Facebook Live only adds to the madcap fun and information they present weekly.  

Take time in the next few days to renew old contacts. Tell someone you love them. Be a giver. Help brighten someone's day. Enjoy. Will you remember the real reason for this season and will you be a better person and an example for others to follow in 2019? 

We know not the days we have remaining here on this big, blue orb. Will you rise in the morning and greet the day? Will you retire at night knowing you did what you could to make it a better place for all? 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!!!

David Watson   

MERRY CHRISTMAS! - MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

FROM ALL OF US AT CARDINAL COUPLE...

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Paulie, Sonya, Jeff, Case, Jared and Julie



CHRISTMAS MORNING THOUGHTS

As I sit in my front room office, looking out my window, we
have snow for Christmas in Louisville, not much, but enough
to say we have a White Christmas. My thoughts go back to
earlier years, when we kids would tumble out of bed and
awaken our parents...energized by the thoughts and hopes of
what would be under the tree. Mom insisting we have breakfast
before the ripping of gift paper, screams of delight and love
and thankfulness that filled the air and the living room. 

Later that day, there would be church and then a return to "gift
central". Dad on the couch watching football, nursing an beverage.
Going out into the winter wonderland for sledding, snowball fights
or anticipating the turkey dinner, our senses filled with the wonderful 
smell in the kitchen. Shoveling the driveway so we could bounce a 
basketball on it and throwing prayers at a wooden backboard and 
slightly bent rim with no net. Happy times.  

Please try to remember the tenets of the season as you go through
the remainder of 2017 and head into 2018. Peace. Joy. Goodwill
to all and helping others. Remember, as you attend your holiday
festivities, venture to the Bowl game or just go through the mechanics
of everyday life that hope and joy are powerful things. Tomorrow
is not guaranteed. Enjoy today. Let those around you know you care.

I am thankful for a wonderful and caring wife. Family. A staff that I am  
proud of and encouraged by daily. The readership/listenership that
we do this for and who motivates us. Friends. The anticipation of what
lies ahead in the New Year. Venues that allow us to do what we love.
The joy and excitement of UofL women's sports and Cardinal Athletics.

I miss my parents. Close friends who have passed. I'd like to believe
they smile down upon us. If you never forget them, they're never
really gone.  

Grateful that I am still here and able to laugh, love and dream. To
recognize my wife, hold her and tell her I love her. 

Live your days to their fullest extent. Laugh when you can, cry if 
you need to...and try to be a good person, do the right thing and
make a gentle but remember-able path in this world. We wish you
a hopeful Christmas and a bountiful New Year. 

James Taylor recorded a beautiful song many years ago. Shower
the people you love with love. Good words in these times. Have a 
listen below:

SHOWER THE PEOPLE

Believe in love, peace, and harmony. Don't stop believing.
You can make a difference. Stay beautiful and unique. We
appreciate you. You are Cardinal Couple and we never forget that. 

-Paulie

We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Live At The Helix In Dubli...

From all of us at CARDINAL COUPLE...we wish you
a Merry Christmas! 

Merry Christmas -- Cardinal Couple

From all of us at Cardinal Couple, a Very Merry Christmas! 


We hope you have a great Christmas day and want to thank you for following CARDINAL COUPLE in 2015. We appreciate your readership, comments, ideas and suggestions and promise that 2016 will be another great year of reporting on the joy and excitement of UofL women's sports. 

As we reflect on this year...be sure to catch our end of year CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR broadcast Saturday at 11 a.m. on WCHO 100.9 FM and at www.crescenthillradio.com 


As for Sonja and I, we are blessed to have the creative genius of all our followers, contributors and supporters...especially Worldwide Jeff McAdams. 

If I were Bob Hope, he'd be my Bing Crosby.

We're looking forward to the upcoming year and hope you'll come along for the ride! 


Merry Christmas! 


paulie

Here comes Santa Claus (right down Santa Claus Lane) - Elvis Presley

From the staff of Cardinal Couple...


A very merry Christmas to all! 

We appreciate your reading of the site in 2014. As we take this break from the daily reporting on Louisville women's sports...please keep the tenets of this holiday season on your mind and in the forefront. 

Good will, charity, peace, love, kindness, hope and praise. 

And...as you gather with your family, friends or that certain special someone, please also remember -- as the song lyrics suggest -- we are all God's children and equal in His eyes.

A shining light beams down on all of us...rich or poor, young or old, black or white and near or far. Let that be your guiding light as you go through your holiday endeavors. If you believe, you can achieve...and be a good person, not just during Christmas...but 365 days a year. 

paulie

Frank Sinatra - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

To our readers...




MERRY CHRISTMAS!!.


And, a story of hope...

The young men were defeated, down and deflated. Despite their best efforts, they trailed 6-0 in a football game that had been far from pretty. Played in a driving rainstorm, with falling temperatures. Neither team had been able to do much offensively. Only once had the ball gone into the end zone, an improbable 20 yard pass to a receiver wide open because the defensive back had fallen down.

The team in the lead had the ball. Only a few minutes remained in the game. All but the die-hard fans had departed. The defense took a time out, hoping for some kind of strategy to get the ball back, to stop the opponent. The defensive coordinator looked at his muddy, worn out warriors and pleaded with them to get a stop, to hold on. He looked around, all were listening intently. Then, his eye caught that of one of his reserves. Not a very good football player, but one with heart. He motioned to the young man. Told him to go in at linebacker. Asked him to run as hard as he could through the middle of the offensive line and try to get to the powerful opposing running back and make the tackle.

The defense returned to the field. Digging in. Ready to defend. The young man with the clean jersey dashed toward the line as the ball left the center's snap and reached the quarterback's hands. The defensive tackles did their job. The line magically opened and the reserve found himself face-to-face with the advancing ball carrier. He lowered his head, He aimed for the waist. He dove forward.

Helmet meets arm. Ball pops loose. A teammate scoops it up and takes off for the endzone. He gets there untouched. Touchdown! A nervous moment later, the placekicker sends a wobbly effort barely over the crossbar. 7-6. A few mintues later the game ends. 

The young reserve who created the fumble would never play another football game. Graduating from high school, he was offered no scholarships, wasn't that great of a student to begin with, and went to work as a laborer.

His inspirational play that night, though, was caught by a school reporter with a camera. The photo was given to the coaching staff, who took it to a printer and had it enlarged to poster size. It still hangs in the home team locker room to this day and has the caption beneath it.

NEVER GIVE UP

As you go into your New Year, when you face seemingly insurmountable obstacles, when it looks like no hope exists, please remember this story. And find your way through and create the opportunity. Never give up.

(THANKS TO THE ANONYMOUS SENDER WHO SENT US THIS STORY)


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Dean Martin- White Christmas

SATURDAY AT CARDINAL COUPLE:
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MERRY CHRISTMAS! Thank you so much for making us what we are today and WE hope this Holiday season brings you joy, contentment and peace. We'll see you Monday. In the meantime, please enjoy the incomprable stylings of Dean Martin...singing Paul's favorite Christmas song. It is snowing in Louisville as we write this and "may your dreams be merry and bright...and may all your Christmases be white."
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PAUL & SONJA