I know the point of this is to talk pain, but there is more to us than that. Especially those of us who share more and get advice from the same people. I like to think we are among friends. And since I'm feeling ok today, I feel like letting you guys know a little about who I am as a person.

My name is Stephanie. I was born and raised in a small town in KS. I was brought up wearing the crimson and blue of the Jayhawks, taught to despise the color purple and hate the gold and black of Mizzou. Now I do have kstater friends and tiger friends(though why anyone would choose to live like that is beyond me), I just don't see too much of them during the most wonderful time of the yr(not Christmas) but Nov-March and god willing, April. To all my Jayhawk loving friends, Allen Field House is Mecca. If anyone has a chance to watch a game there, or can afford it, do so. It should be on every sports fans bucket list. Its an experience of a lifetime. I'm also an avid Chiefs fan. Its been a rough few yrs, but so far, off to a good start. Let's keep it goin boys!

One of my favorite movies has a handful of quotes that could go on my tombstone. That movie is Moneyball. #1 I hate losing even more than I like winning. #2 it doesn't matter how well your season goes, if you lose the last game, who cares?(every Jayhawk hates that day in the tournament. In fact, I go on tourney strike when we get beat, won't watch another game) and #3 how can you not be romantic about baseball?

The last one is a clear metaphor about sports and suits me perfectly. I am a little strange. Before I became vegetarian last month I ate hot wings with a fork. I hate any meat on pizza unless its day old refridgerator pizza, then its all good. I cry almost every single day and not because I'm sad. I get those tears of joy from watching, of all things, SportsCenter(my lifelong dream has been to grab a spot on their top 10 plays. Maybe I will get an opportunity to nail a half court shot or something). When someone does something amazing, breaks a record, wins the game on a walk off homer, it doesn't matter who they are or what team they play for, I get so happy for that team or individual and I shed a few tears of joy. Weird right? I like weird people. The more weird someone is, the more I want to be their friend. Because being different is awesome!

I had a natural gift as an athlete. My dad was an all-american in football, basketball, and baseball in college and is rightfully in the universities Hall of Fame. I got his abilities. I was an all-state softball player two yrs in a row. My highschool bball team went undefeated and won state our junior yr(I had the first 7 points of the championship game. Stephanie 7, other team 0. We won that game by two points. I remember it like it was yesterday.) I went to college on a softball scholarship.

Who didn't love college right? The good ol days of damn near zero responsibility and partying at least 4 days a week. I worked as a lifeguard and went to class and lived a funtastic life! Time sure does go by fast.

Though I live with my parents now bc of my pain, I hope to get back to Dallas where I had spent the last 5 yrs of my life. I work as a dr assistant and love it. Can't wait to get back.