Wasting time on the internet

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Luke...a man's best friend

Today I try not to be sappy, sentimental or sad... This will take some doing because yesterday we received some bad news about our Dog, Luke.

A couple of weeks ago I noticed a bump on Luke's Right front leg. At first I thought maybe he'd been stung by something or had hurt himself on the fence. Feeling the bump, I noticed it was firm, yet a bit "squishy," so it seemed like a big blister or something. I decided I'd keep an eye on it.

A few days went by and it was time for Luke's bath. As I was washing him I felt a similar (in shape and size) bump on his right back thigh, and noticed he was developing another one on his right front paw. My first thought was that he had tumors, but since I'm no expert we decided to check with the vet.

Yesterday we took Luke to the vet...(barking, spraying saliva and shedding all the way!) Luke is always very happy and excited to ride in the car, and as soon as he sees us get his harness out he knows it's time for either a walk or a ride in the car. (Which in this dog's life is like a trip to Disney World!!! It's a REALLY BIG DEAL!!!)

So we soon discover that as eager as Luke is to get into the vet's office, he is not happy to give up a stool sample or blood and so a wrestling match begins between two vet assistants, Luke and myself. I thought he was going to have a heart attack as hard as he was breathing!!!

Anyway, the Doctor took fluid from the bumps and checked Luke all over. At first glance, Luke seems like the typically goofy, active, happy Lab that most of them seem to be. The Doctor said he didn't like the looks of the bumps and that he would call us as soon as the results came back.

At 8:00 last night, the Doctor called and gave us the news... "Cancer" is what he said.

My heart sank...how could this big, goofy dog have cancer? He said that Luke needed surgery, which of course will be expensive, and that we don't have a lot of time to wait, or a lot of options.

I broke the news to the kids and to Sherry and they were distraught to say the least.

Next week we plan to have the surgery and are hoping and praying for the best. I remember when Luke was a baby and would fall asleep on my chest, or would sneak into a basket of freshly folded sheets and take a nap. I remember him going on a running spell in the living room in which he ran round and round as fast as he could knocking lamps, pillows and books all over the room.

I love how when you ask him a question he barks as if he's answering, and I love the way he furrows his brow as if he's thinking the deepest of deep thoughts.

It's hard to write this knowing that Luke's future is in question. I don't know what I'll say to my Sons if things don't turn out well. Someone told us yesterday when we told them, that we should just go ahead and put him to sleep since he's already nine years old. Let me see them do that to their dog when a situation like this arises. How can you do that to a beloved member of your family?

If it looks like he's going to be suffering I would have to consider it, but only after I try everything else. After all, he's one of my best friends...

I blog...because I can

Last time I checked, this was still the United States of America... The sky was still blue, the flag was still waving and Angelina Jolie was still adoptin' babies. So, nothing has changed, really.

Last night was interesting...after dinner we went to my friend's house and we sat and discussed Cub Scout stuff (since we're co-leaders), while our kids ran around the house like monkeys on crack...(my kids anyway, I can't speak for his...) I was planning on staying a half-hour or so because Jared (my youngest) had a gift card and money burning a hole in his pocket and was dying to get to TOYS AM WE. (I've called Toys R Us that since I used to work there many years ago.)

Anyhoo, we stayed for an hour and a half!!! Vic and I started talking and went on a guy blabfest! I know women are supposed to do that, but do adult males? I guess we can, it's just that the opportunity rarely presents itself. I talk to my Dad for about a half hour long distance every weekend, but hey, that's my Dad! I don't think I've talked to another guy this much in years! (Other than my Friend, Jeff...but we don't see each other that often.)

Anyway, it was nice to talk to someone close to my age that has kids close to my age and has gone through some of the guy things that guys close to my age go through...

So we talked for a bit, and Dustin (my oldest) joined in some and talked about MP-3 players and music (which is what Dustin always talks about cause at age 13 it's either music or girls. Cars won't hit for another couple of years yet...)

Then I realize it's 8:20 and Toys Am We closes at 9:00 but by then, Jared is all wound up and doesn't want to leave. So a yelling and spanking later (I went gentle on him, please don't send me nasty emails! Besides, he usually ignores spankings in much the same way that he ignores being told to do, or not to do something!)

We arrive at TOYS with about 20 mins to shop so I tell J-Rod that he better find it and find it fast! Luckily Major League Baseball stuff is right inside the door! Yea! No searching involved!
He buys an Ozzie Smith Baseball action figure that is so cool and realistic (although I'm sure Ozzie was taller than 6 inches!) He's posed mid-backflip over a patch of astro-turf, and I'm amazed at the detail on this toy! He's got dirt on his socks, and you can even read the "RAWLINGS" label on his glove. Weird! But in a good way.

Jared then picks up a huge box of baseball cards that has packages in it that date back to the 80's as well as some of last year's cards. That is a "gotta have" for Jared, so then we hustle back to the Gameboy games and he finds one he wants but with tax he's going over by $4.00, so I tell him I'll "loan" it to him... Off we go with our Disney Channel/Nickolodean or whatever game, our Ozzie (not life sized) and our cards. Amazingly enough, Dustin has $8.00 on him and spends nothing! I have to write that on the calendar!

I get home and discover (thanks for the bad news, Sherry!) that the SBC GLOBAL that I finally got working on the computer the day before, is NOW NOT WORKING! Darn you SBC GLOBAL!!!

So now it's the next day, March 21st and I have to work both jobs after not sleeping well last night. But tomorrow I'm off, and taking Luke to the vet...(an adventure I'm sure!). He has a couple of weird growths on his leg that just came up recently and he's due for a check-up.
I guess I'll be spending some time on the phone with tech support from SBC GLOBAL too...
Wheeeeeee!

I don't know what else I need to share with you all....but then again, I only blog because I can...

-David

Seriously bummed

Another basketball season has faded away...along with the hopes of a first place win. This year, as in many years past, resulted in winning second place in the city-wide tournament. I suppose what makes it different this year is the hint of scandal that took place during the season and the
questions left unanswered.

Case in point... The team we played is not known for it's sportsmanlike conduct... The Coach is one of the members of the League's board of directors and has been under scrutiny since it was documented last year that his Wife would sit behind opposing team's benches and radio their plays to her Husband during the games.

Case in point #2... since said Coach was on the Board, he was in charge of distributing the "pool" of new players. We got one new player who had never played basketball before, while his team got three new players, two of them black and one white, and all over 5 foot 8 inches tall. He also had one new player who showed up only to play in tournament games, but none of the regular season games... which is against league rules.

Case in point #3... during the Christmas week tournament our team was scheduled to play 4 games while the opposing team only had to play 3. We were undefeated in the tourney and yet this team was awarded first place based on point spread BEFORE OUR FINAL GAME WAS FINISHED!!!

Today's heartbreaking loss, (our last as a team since next year the school will have it's own team) with a score of 34 to 29 was a mess. We didn't play our best, but at one point the opposing team had two of their players surround one of ours and foul him at least 4 times before stealing the ball, dribbling to the end of the court, walking 4 steps and making two points. No Walks, No Fouls...the other team wins.

There were numerous fouls and walks during the game that apparently went unnoticed by the Referees, but not by the crowd who began to yell "Walk" and "Foul" in protest. One particularly bad "non-call" involved a player taking 8 steps before shooting the ball...again, a two-pointer, but not a walk...hmmmm....

We played fair, we played hard...and even though in the eyes of the league we didn't win first place...we were the good guys, the best players and the Most valuable players, as well. Dustin's team was the best team there...trophy or no trophy.

-David

Kinda Tired

Hi, just me....still kind of tired from having my guts kicked around by this illness I'm fighting...
Went to the Doctor today and she said (GUESS WHAT???) That I'm doing way too much and not getting enough rest.

So in order for me to get well, I have to take more, stronger medicines and get some bed rest...
The sad thing is, I don't think that's even remotely possible.

Okay, so I thought that I might be dying yesterday and then I fell asleep in the afternoon and probably due to the painkillers, no one could wake me up and we missed going to the NAIA basketball tournament. (Sorry Jared!!!)

So today I slept a bit amidst the Doctor visits and trips to buy drugs at ye old Wal-Mart pharmacy. I'm missing a couple of days at that book store I work at, which will only bother me later when I see my teeny-tiny paycheck next Friday.

I rested some today and watched a couple of episodes of "Little Britain" that were not as funny and a lot more tacky than season #1. They seemed to be trying a bit too hard, although the bits with Lew and Andy were funny. (and the bits with the man dressed as a four hundred pound female exhibitionist were NOT!)

In any event, it was a rather lackluster day and now I'm kinda tired. Tomorrow is the big basketball tournament and Dustin's swan song as a basketball player. I'm proud of him, and just a bit sad that it's all coming to an end. I think he should try out next year, but he thinks not...
We'll fall off that bridge when we get to it...

-David

Not the most exciting day...

So I woke up and got ready for work...the pulled muscle (I won't go into details as they are far to graphic for most of my reading audience...all two of you...) in my side nagging me before I even got out of bed.
Tried to get Dustin up but he's not been feeling well either...(We think he may have some sort of muscle spasm thing going on in his back). Sherry and I decided it was best if he stayed home so I let him go back to sleep.
I only had to work a 4 hour shift today since I did 12 hours on Monday and I'm GLAD because I feel like road kill so far gone that the crows won't even touch me! I somehow manage to get around and get out of the house and on the road.
I barely make it to work on time thanks to the woman in the blue Honda Accord who mistakenly thinks that the downtown speed limit is 5 MPH!!! So then I try to log onto my computer and it restarts instead, thus rendering my attempts to access the time clock totally useless. (Luckily my Pal, Gail is there to let me clock in on her PC...Thanks Gail!!!)
So today is a BIRTHDAY day at the big LIBERRY and Sherry baked a carrot cake for me to
take in, which everyone says is "REALLY GOOD." (MMM....it is!!!) So after working on my daily duties I eat some taco salad, which is good but kills my stomach which is irritated from all of the Vicodin I've been popping.
I hit the homestead at about 1:00 and make Dustin some lunch and then change into lounge pants and a Royals T-Shirt and then I crash on the bed...(softly and slowly since MY SIDE IS KILLING ME!!!)
I'm supposed to get up around 3:30 and get ready to take the boys to the NAIA Basketball Tournament, but guess what? Thanks to Vicodin and the previous night's "non-sleep" I cannot wake up!!! When I do wake up I have a Vicodin/Taco Salad hangover and am groggy beyond belief and it is now 5:30 PM!!! We were supposed to have been at the tournament by then!!!
Sherry says "Oh, since you aren't going to the basketball game, Can you take Jared to his
baseball practice?" I hear Jared whining in the background..."YOU PROMISED WE'D GO TO THE BASKETBALL GAME!!!" I explain that I'm in no shape to drive and that he really should go to practice since we obviously can't go to the Tourney... So, Sherry drives us to baseball and she and Dustin drop us off to go shopping...
The practice is good but it's 55 degrees, cloudy and the wind is blowing about 20 MPH which makes it very, very COLD!!! So while the kids run around getting sweaty, all of the parents look like penguins huddling together for warmth. I WISH I HAD A BLANKET OR A STOCKING CAP OR SOME HOT CHOCOLATE!!! Is all that I can think while I shiver away the hour. Jared gets about 4 home runs... I want to leave...
Sherry arrives and says "Subway sounds good" and I'm thinking that since my stomach ache is gone, Subway does sound pretty good. So we go home and eat and watch "ANDY BARKER, P.I." and "Raines" (with Jeff Goldblum), both are really good new TV shows that I hope make it...they fit in really well with "Earl," "The Office," and "Scrubs."
Now I'm blogging and soon, I will sleep... My side really hurts... Not the most exciting day...

-DAVE

The Nicest Guys in Town

Jared, Jack Harry & Dustin
Jared at "The 38 Sports Spot"

Jared watching "The Simpsons"
on the teleprompter...

Sherry, Dustin, Gary Lezak, Jack Harry & Jared visit at Channel 41/38 Studios.



Recently, Jared (our 7 year old) was invited by Channel 41 Sports Director, Jack Harry, to sit in on the taping of his live television show "The Sports Spot." (Which airs nightly on channel 38.)





We got to the station about 20 minutes before the show started and were let into the studios by Leon Liebl (weekend Sports Anchor for ch. 41). Mr. Liebl was very nice and gave us a quick tour of the studios and then found us chairs about 6 feet to the side of the set. He let Jared sit on the set for a few minutes watching "The Simpsons" on the teleprompter attached to the front of the camera.





Kim Anderson (Coach of the #1 CMSU MULES) was one of the guests on the show that night and he came into the studio not long after we arrived. We spoke briefly to Coach Anderson and talked about basketball (of course!) and he asked if the boys (Dustin and Jared) played and what their records were for the season...(He was very nice...)





Moments before the broadcast, Jack Harry arrived and walked out onto the set. He looked through some papers and then realizing there were other people in the studio, he shielded his eyes and said "Hi" to Coach Anderson and then he said "David?" to me and asked "Is this your


family?" I told him yes and introduced him to everyone and he asked if we needed anything to drink and if we were comfortable. He said he'd talk to us more during the breaks and after the show. (He was also very nice...)





The crew readied the cameras and started the countdown...on the moniter we could see the beginning of the show and then Jack began to announce who was on the show, etc... and then went on to discuss the Royals while footage of the Royals played to the viewers at home.


Mr. Harry then talked a bit about the Chiefs and then went to a commercial.





Joe Posnanski of the Kansas City Star arrived and went right to the set. He was to be the first guest and would be talking about that day's release of his new book "The Soul of Baseball" which is about his year of travel with the late, great Buck O'Neil. He visited with Jack briefly and then


went straight into the interview.





True to his word, during the breaks Jack would shout out "How you doin' out there" to us while he shielded his eyes from the bright lights. I was proud of both Jared and Dustin for sitting so


still and quiet during the show. I was worried that inviting a (then 6-year-old) kid to a live show


was a mistake, but he did really well.





The show wrapped up after Kim Anderson's interview. He came over and shook hands with all of us and made small talk. He told the boys good luck with their basketball teams and then he left. Jack shot a couple of quick promos for his show and then came over to talk to us, pose for pictures with the boys and then gave us a tour of all of the sets and the control room.





As we passed through the studio we ran into our family's favorite WeatherMan, Gary Lezak, and he was very kind and posed for a couple of pictures too. He even told us what the weather was going to be for the next day...(and he was right!) Jack (and his producer, Justin) then showed us the newsroom and thanked us for coming... We thanked him back and left...





What impressed me most about all of this is that having grown up in a TV environment with my Dad working at KYTV in Springfield, I know how busy TV stations can be... The fact that these guys took the time to meet with us, just because my youngest Son is a big fan... amazed me.





What started out as an email from Jared to ask for an autograph, turned into a memorable evening for all of us.





So to Jack, Leon, Gary, Justin and all of the nice people we met... Thank you! We appreciate you being the nicest guys in town!





-David

Fred Dalton Thompson for President

For Months and days and weeks and years I have thought (and have spoken to those who would listen) about who my "dream team" for President and Vice President would be someday, and for Months and days and weeks and years I have always answered that I could see a team of Fred Dalton Thompson and J.C. Watts being exactly the type of gentlemen that I would vote for.

In Yesterday's KC Star, there was an AP release that said something to the effect that Mr. Thompson was "considering a run" in 2008. YIPPPEEEEEE!!!! This is the news I've been waiting for!!! For the longest time, the press has been droning on about who was running and who might run and you know what? Of all the names mentioned, I thought that maybe two or three might merit a second glance, however...not one of these potentials excited me in the least...

UNTIL YESTERDAY, when I read about Thompson. Already, the Internet is buzzing about the prospect of Thompson in the race. Plain Spoken and Honest (almost to a fault) he is exactly what I'm looking for in a President.

J.C. Watts, the black former Congressman from Oklahoma is also someone who I'd love to see run... and here's an idea.... why don't they run together as a team from the start instead of waiting until the convention and the nomination to announce running mates? Wouldn't it make more sense to have them work together?

In any event, one of the MANY online petitions to urge Thompson to run is here...
http://www.draftfredthompson.com/ Give it a shot and see what happens.

Thompson is the real deal!!!


David

My Heroes

Today I pay tribute to those unsung heroes...the people who mean so much to me that sometimes I'm too busy to thank. The people who are always there without fail and who do things for me so often that I sometimes take it for granted. These people (in no particular order) are my Saints, my mentors, my friends, my family...and my heroes...

8. Pastor Fred... Even though I've only known him for a couple of years...he always makes
me think about God, my life, my attitude and my direction and dedication
to Christ. Thoughtful, smart and funny...he's one of the newest heroes that
I have.

7. Joan Young... I've known her since forever and there is rarely a day when I don't think
about her. She was my mentor before I even knew what a mentor was.
She made me want to read and made me love to read. She encouraged me
when I wanted to write (In fact, she was one of the few who challenged me
to write!!!) She's probably the reason why I've worked in the Library for
so very long. Thank you to my favorite Librarian, Joan Young!

6. Grandma Fry
Grandpa Fry
Grandma Cox
Grandpa Cox
Grandma Brazeal
Grandpa Brazeal
Grandma Dollins Among them they raised dozens of kids. Sometimes the life of a farmer
or a grape harvester or a jig dancer seemed overwhelming. Living
during the depression, world war II and times of strife must have
been darned near impossible. And still they did it...without phones,
microwaves and vcr's. They loved their Country, their neighbors and
their families. They loved me...and I still love them all.

5. Dustin and Jared They're my Sons...they aren't perfect, but neither am I. Sometimes I
think they're too obsessed with their video games and their music, but
then I think back to when I was their age... Sometimes I think their
hair is too long...but I suppose my folks thought that about me too.
They make me proud in so many ways and I love them more than I
can ever hope to show or tell them. Sometime I hope that when they
think I'm too strict that they'll stop for a moment and think that
maybe Dad's just picky because he loves them.

4. Doyle and Doris Cox
and Verda Cox too! They're my parents. Did they screw me up? Oh, maybe a little...but
I think in a way they're supposed to so that we can pass some of that
on to our kids. Have I always gotten along with them? No...but have
I ever stopped loving them? No... I hope that along with the grief
that I gave them, I made them smile a few times and made them
proud more often than not. Being a Son doesn't come with any more
instructions than being a parent does... We just stumble and fumble
our way through life hoping that when we fall, they'll be there to catch
us...and so far, they always have been.
(Gary and Millie fall into this category too.... Thank you!)

3. My Friends Sure I get ticked when you don't call or write, or when you never,
ever e-mail me back...but you know what? You have lives and wives
and husbands and kids and pets now and I'll bet you're too busy to
keep up with everything... but just as I think about you from time
to time...I hope you think of me too!

2. God Thank you God... I saw your Sunset yesterday as it bathed the Earth
with your beautiful light. I saw the puddles from the rain the night
before. I saw a little girl kiss her daddy and say "I love you, Daddy,"
and it made me smile. I heard my own youngest Son say "you're
the best Dad, ever!" and it made me happy and made my heart ache
just a bit too. God, I'm glad you believe in me...and I believe in you.

1. My Wife, Sherry When I think of miracles I think of you. I think of how God was so
gracious that he put you into my life. I think of the first time I kissed
you and of when you said Yes that you'd be my Wife. I think of you,
being the only girl in a house full of boys... tripping over baseball
bats and basketballs and living with a husband who isn't a handyman
when it comes to cars and plumbing and electricity. I think of you,
being dragged to Royals games and having to pick up sweaty socks
off the floor. I think of how much you've missed with your hearing
loss and how much I'm thankful that I can help be your ears when
you need me to be. You are the absolute love of my life and I
couldn't or wouldn't want to imagine my life without you. I love you!

Diss and Dat

Hello Everyone... (this is me playing "nice" for a moment...)

If you've been around me for more than 5 mins this week you might have noticed that I have been in a bit of a foul mood. (I prefer to think of it as being "Snarky"). In any event, I have been quick on the draw when it comes to getting ticked off.

So, as I often love to do...(it is a necessary evil...) I'm going to rant a bit.

These are the people (or things) I wish to Diss this week:

1. Storms (you made me miss last week's episode of "LOST" which will probably screw me
up for the rest of the season!!!)

2. Reruns (No new episodes of "The OFFICE" or "My name is EARL???!!!) Do you know what
this does to a snarky person??? It doubles our snarky-levels!!! Do you want to
be responsible for that???

3. Stupid drivers (Green means go...do not sit through green and talk on your cell phone!!!
Yellow means slow down...NOT SPEED UP! Red means stop!!! Do not
ignore RED!!! also...little yellow lines and speed limit signs mean some-
thing!!! Learn to read and understand them!!!)

4. Hillary Clinton (Love the accent, Babe...keep it up! Bordering on racist, your "Granny
Clampett impersonation rocked the house! Until that is, the Reverend
Al Sharpton called you a Panderer. I love it! Al Sharpton calling someone
out for Pandering!!! Amazing!!! Then there's the fact that Hillary spent
20 years trying to get out of the South and now she wants in oh-so-bad!)

5. OBAMA (He's so beloved and revered that he's been given the one-name treatment
on the news! He too adopted a "Southern tone in his Selma speech.
Listen as "Before" becomes "Befoe." Nice Jesse Jackson tribute,
but I think I'll wait for your "Greatest Hits CD" to come out!)

6. Ann Coulter (Ann...poor Ann... This isn't one of your finer moments. And when you later
offered an apology to Gay people for lumping them in with John Edwards,
You could here the collective gasps of "Open-minded, free speech protect-
Liberals" everywhere. Gotta give you credit though, cause if you were
aiming for stupid...you got there first (and fastest)!!! You go Girl!)

7. C.B. ( I feel mean picking on you...but could you at least not be such a target!!!
You're likeable in a way...but mostly people just put up with you, and
it's at the point where people are starting to ask why....)

8. Evil Refs (Okay Ref, if a 5 foot tall kid is bear hugging my 3 foot tall kid, would you
consider that a foul??? Would you call it???)

9. Friends (Not all friends, but some friends... I'm talking about the ones who never
call or write or respond to E-mails....)

10. My Job (I know you think that we have all the time in the world to journal our
activities...but we do not...and thank Goodness you didn't ask us to
journal our thoughts!!!)

sbcglobal warming

After 3 days of trying to post from home...(Thank you SBCGLOBAL for "freezing up" every time I click "POST" which somehow manages to eat everything I've just written!!!)

So this is a test... please work, please oh please oh please...

David