KU's March madness is Over

We had high hopes for our KU team this year, even though they weren't supposed to be that great since losing all of their starters. But they "over achieved," as someone put it in a write up.
They did better than everyone expected they would. Over achieving is a good thing to do whether you are a team or an individual. How about those teams or people who "think" they can do well only to blow it and not get as far? Being ambitious is a good thing and this team of players are expected to get even better next year.

Then there is the NBA draft. Many players can't resist the temptation of money. They would always think, "Hey, I can make more money being a player than a student." They wouldn't have any more student loans and they would start making the bucks! They would think that they could finish their education "anytime." Some players think this and yet never come back to college.

But then there are the players who think, "You know I could improve on my game, if I would stay one more year." Not only do they help themselves but help the team. If only they would wait maybe they would get a higher draft pick in the NBA lottery.

There are two who would be technically NBA ready: Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins. Aldrich has improved his game since a year ago when he played behind Darnell Jackson and Sasha Kaun. But is he good enough now to play in the NBA? If he waits he could be one of the better players. Then there is Sherron Collins. He will be a senior in college, if he stays, and he could probably improve his game somewhat too and benefit by staying one more year.

I have heard from interviews with both Aldrich and Collins that they plan on staying at KU next year. Sports pundits have said if everyone would stay on the team that next year's team would be a "pre-season number 1 team."

Every year, everyone is worried about the aspect of someone leaving for the NBA. Where are the days where everyone stayed in school until they graduated and then went for the NBA?
Often times the NBA has drafted players right out of high school, Kobi Bryant is one. Does every college player think that they could be the next Kobi Bryant or LeBron James? This is when over achieving is a bad thing, I think. These college players need to stay put until they have at least played three or more years of college ball.

Time will tell what Aldrich and Collins will eventually do. I am hoping that they will come back.

March Madness Tonight

Even though we are under a blizzard warning here in Kansas, we are staying inside watching our KU Jayhawks try to avenge their loss in January to Michigan State. We are hoping that they can get into the Elite 8.

Last night Mizzou pulled off an upset over second seeded Memphis. They played well last night. Tonight Oklahoma Sooners are playing as well as the Jayhawks. I am really pulling for the Hawks. Most people are happy if any Big 12 teams are in the Elite 8.

The Big 12 does get a bad rap from the East coast sports announcers. They think that the best league by far is the Big East. The Big East is not all that great in basketball. The Big 12 are just as good.

Who won the National Championship back in '08? Do they need to be reminded?
It was KU of the Big 12. I rest my case.
Rock Chalk Jayhawks!

Snow at the end of March!?!

Nooooooo! But the forecasters in my area say that we are going to have at least a foot of snow or more by Saturday night.

I look outside at my spring like backyard and try to imagine the dandelions being covered in snow and the new spring growth crumble under the white heavy stuff. I can picture it now. We will have cracked limbs and a big clean up underway. Snow in March is ridiculous! But it does happen here.

Watching television this afternoon there is a blizzard watch for my area. Not just a winter storm warning but a blizzard. Blinding snow and white outs, not a pretty picture. Just hope that the meterologist have it wrong.

Unfortunately I don't think they are going to be wrong! Get out the boots and the snow shovels. Unfortunately it is coming! :(

Testing is done!

I went through the dreaded prep, test and the exam of the colonoscopy. As you read down in my other entry, I delayed doing it out of fear. Now, that I have done this procedure I hope that I can get others to get tested as well.

Here is my experience: On Sunday afternoon and evening I was gearing my gut by eating jello and liquids. I didn't eat any rough food (that's why I wasn't at the church dinner downing some delictables). Then that day I ate my breakfast waffles and that was it. I had nothing solid after 8 Am. I drank water, a little throughout the day because I was warned that I would be intaking a lot of liquid for the prep. So when the prep would start I would be parched.

L and I drove over to the east side of Wichita and he ate his lunch in front of me. I could smell the brownie that he was eating and I started to salivate (much like a dog would). We walked through a book store that had a large cafe and eatery inside. I could smell the food aromas and decided to get away from that area. My stomach started to growl and loud. No. I couldn't satisfy the growl, except by drinking water.

I had my liquids that I was going to mix with the prep in my ice chest. But then I thought I would get a huge 64 oz. drink at Kwik Shop. We went to this one Kwik Shop and I proceeded to fill it and said, "You know this looks like water." L sampled it and it WAS! :( So that particular store advertised Minute Maid Lemonade and they lied! So we went south to an off brand Quickie Mart and this time they had the real stuf. Only problem i could get it in 48 oz. Oh well.

The hotel that we stayed at that day was very close to my surgery center and it had a fridge, microwave, stove top and even a dishwasher....pretty neat place.

I counted down the time when I had to start my prep at 4 pm. I poured my powdered prep in the cap. It looked like A LOT! I gulped as I poured it into my 8 oz cup of Minute Maid. I stirred and stirred it well and drank it. I couldn't taste the prep at all...sure I saw it but didn't taste it. So I had to continue to drink 8 oz drinks every 15-20 minutes until 8 pm. It WAS a boatload of liquid!! UGH!! I got through the Minute Maid Lemonade and started drinking Crystal Lite Lemonade. I was getting sick of Lemonade at that point (about 2 hours into it). So I took a sip of Sprite...too sweet ! Then I poured it into Pulp Free Orange Juice, not bad. But by the time I had two more to go until the end, I pleaded with L that I could do no more! I was sick of it.

The prep worked 2 hours after my first drink. It continued to work throughout the night. Ugh!! Up until the time I had the actual test.

The test was actually the easiest thing ever!! I had an IV in my right arm and then was given oxygen, then a little tube of sleep medicine and I was out!! Zonked right out for all of 30 minutes! It was the best sleep that I had in the past two days. The surgeon told me that everything was clear and I had no polyps and no sign of any other weird abnormalities. It was over!

They said that I could go out and enjoy breakfast. I was famished!! We went out to the restaurant "The Good Egg," and split a huge cinnamon roll. Then I snacked on a biscuit from Mickey D's. I just felt so good!! That I had this done and that I am cancer free.

I'm just telling everyone that it is not as bad as it seemed. I was amazed! I had prayers said for me that night and before and knew that was what got me through it all. Thank you all! I thought about Jesus holding my hand through the surgery and woke up hearing the song in my mind, "Be Unto Your Name."

So if you haven't got tested do, because it could save your life. Do it for your family.

KU in the Sweet 16!

KU Jayhawks made it into the Sweet 16 yesterday after beating the Dayton Flyers by a score of 60-43. The third seeded 'Hawks are doing pretty well in the tournament. After bringing back no starters from the championship team of 08, the Hawks are hungry for good showing in the Big Dance.

Cole Aldrich pictured above had a triple double in yesterday's game. He score 13 points, 10 blocks, and 20 rebounds. It was record setting!! For the game Collins scored 25 points, followed by Tyrel Reed (pictured with Cole) with 9, Mario Little with 7, Tyshawn Taylor with 3, Markieff Morris 2 pts., and Tyronne Appleton with 1. Coach Self even got to rest the starters and bring in the bench team.

The next opponent for the 'Hawks will be a familiar one, in the Michigan State Spartans. KU played them in January and lost. Hopefully this next game the result will be different and KU will be able to win.

Coach Self and the rest of the coaches will be working the team hard no doubt and they will be ready for their 8:30 PM start in Indianapolis on Friday. Rock Chalk Jayhawks!

Tomorrow's the day

Yes, I am going through with the "TEST." The scan. The drink. Am I scared? Sure.

I have been putting off having the test for years. I actually should have been motivated about 20 years ago. My dad had colon cancer. I knew what he went through. I should have been scared straight to demand the test. I watched him take chemo only to see him pass away and die a year before our oldest was born, seventeen years ago. My dad was diagnosed in 1983 with it. He was having unusual symptoms and he hadn't gone in for a regular checkup in years. He had been retired from his work only 1 year and that's when they found the cancer.

The doctors "thought" they got it all and it was contained. But he took chemo to make sure it was clear out of his system. He was clear almost 5 1/2 years being cancer free. Until one February in 1989, they found out the one cell was growing somewhere else. That cell (a malignant one) was growing in his liver. I remember the call from my mom distinctly. I still remember it to this day. He took more chemo until he could take no more.

He knew where the cell was and despite his positive attitude, Hospice came in and helped out my mom. I was a wreck. I had rosacea (stress induced skin problem) and had a couple of miscarriages. I wanted my dad to see his grandchildren.

He never did. After he died, my rosacea cleared up and in December instead of mourning his death we were celebrating new life. S was to be born in August, the very month in which her grandfather died.

You would think that I would be anxious to get tested to make sure that I didn't have any colon cancer. Well frankly, I didn't WANT to know. I didn't like the prep and heard what it was like. Ick, no way. No news was good news for me...that was my motto.

Then fast forward to January, I had pains in my belly that were AWFUL! The doctor on duty at the ER drove it home to me that I should have this test. He saw my young son and he said, "You have to do it for them. You can't be selfish."

Then it hit me. "For them," my family means the world to me. So I scheduled the test which in actuality doesn't sound bad because I will be put under. The only thing in the way is the prep.

After talking to some good friends over the Internet and at church they told me not to worry. It will be okay and that there is no taste. You just get sick of drinking liquids in that short/long of time. Once I get passed that and all the other stuff that they told me I would pass...then I will do it.

I am thinking about my family and pray that I don't end up like my dad and that I am cancer free.

Spring is here!

You can tell it's here! The flowers are blooming (my tulips come up but they don't bloom!), the trees are blooming (outside I see my flowering pear trees looking white), and then you hear the sounds of people sneezing (that would be me).

I started up the lawn mower on Monday and stirred up a lot of dirt, trying to cut the yellow grass and weeds in the back. Which I ended up pulling by hand anyway.

It got so hot yesterday that people were wearing shorts and little insects came out of their homes...into OTHER people's homes. I know this because last night I was observing this insect in my house. My cat was on the lookout watching its every move. S saw the thing flying around. L didn't see it until I said, "LOOK AT THAT THING!!" I was nervous, the flying insect was HUGE. Unfortunely he was the one who had to do battle with it, without the use of a fly swatter (we are not sure where that is currently). He rolled up a magazine and started to swat at it. I tried ducking behind the fireplace. Then finally he got the little bugger.

He had to swat it at least 5 times. That thing wouldn't die. It was a gigantic wasp. Someone left the door open for this thing to fly right on into the house. That's why it is always important to close the door immediately when leaving the house.

Thinking about this incident at my own home...I am starting to wonder if we have any wasp inside the church?? Oh no...!

Random Thoughts

Today while I was in my favorite bookstore getting ready to check out, this little boy got in front of me, by accident. His mother called him by name, "Come on "ex a ma." My mind was trying to sort that one out as I handed the clerk my book. I was going, "What is that kid's name?" I mean, at one time I knew a kid named Xabee, any rate that was his nickname instead of John (which again that makes no sense either). After paying for the book, I followed them out to the parking lot where their car was near ours. I kept trying to listen for clues to the name. Did she say X--mas? I wonder and thought it was possible maybe she gave birth to the boy on Christmas, thus the name X-mas. Or did she have a rash during her pregnancy and she named him for that "Eczema?" I thought, what's the world coming to with names like that one?
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Have you ever noticed that when you drive a little car, like we have now, that the biggest and most humongous vans park right next to you? You need to back your car out to get out of the lot and you can't see to your left because their huge Suburban is parked next to you itty bitty Focus. You proceed to back out and pray that there is not a car in sight because you can't see around that big monster. Why don't they have a parking lot that is marked for only little small cars and another lot for the big heavy duty vehicles. It makes sense, doesn't it?
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Isn't it wonderful how a neighborhood can pull together for a common cause these days? That's how it was in my small town today. Our neighbors pulled together for a common cause and stood united against a certain bully. I love that hometown spirit!
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Spring is coming soon and my yard looks pitiful! I look in the Sunday ads and wonder about the Zoyia grass that is advertised. Order so many plugs for your lawn and sink your feet into the grass. Needs next to nothing in water and grows well in the drought and does well in bare spots. I have toyed with the idea of buying some plugs (much like hair plugs for men) for the front lawn. All I have is bare spots in front. I do the mowing in the spring and summer and stir up a lot of dirt when travel through this area. How I would love to have a luscious green lawn in front instead of that nasty dirt! Does anyone know if that type of grass REALLY works?
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I'm counting down the days patiently for my "medical test." I bought the powder today and look at it wondering how this will taste, or in this case, not taste. How it will feel in my gut and later on when it actually "works." Will I feel horrible? Will I feel okay, but tired of going certain places? I have so many questions. I just wish I knew the answers to them. I bought a couple of cans of broth to prepare for the day before. A liquid diet...ick! Just thinking about what needs to be done is making me nauseous just thinking about it! Please pray for me while I undergo this prep in a week from today. I am not worried about the test, just the prep. It's always been the prep.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

When growing up in my day there was no such thing as these. Well, there was the visits during the National Education Week when the parents would converse with teachers, but not so much on a one-on-one basis. I can remember getting a report card (in grade school) with comments the teacher wrote on the back. Often it was to tell how their student was needing to improve and maybe once in a while some really positive comments. If your student was really having a problem then your parent would come to talk to the teacher one-on-one, but other than that there wasn't that much contact with the teacher.

In this day and age there is more contact with the teacher. In our school system, we as parents, are allowed to talk with the teachers at least twice a year or more. If there is a question or a problem we are allowed to contact them immediately or at least use email. Communication between parents and teachers are a whole lot better today. It's great! As parents we can find out exactly what the teacher sees and what our students tell us.

Yesterday we went out to the HS to have the conferences. I always look forward to this time of year. I really enjoy most of the teachers on the whole. A few, depending on how well my daughter and son are doing in the classroom, I dread to even visit with.

There are the teachers that hand out a progress report and have nothing to say, especially if the student is doing well. I would at least like to hear a little feedback instead of nothing at all. We spend a minute, if that at one teacher's table. Then those teachers we know our daughter really likes we spend more time talking to them. They sometime tells us things that are surprising and a lot of positive things, these are the teachers I really enjoy. Teachers who talk about helping them get further in subjects, these are the true teachers. The ones who truly care about students doing well in school.

One of the most interesting teachers last night was the Biology teacher. I was looking at these bones that students glued to a card. The teacher tells us that was the remnants of a dissected owl pellet. I was so fascinated by that, that afterwards at home I looked on the Internet about how this was formed. Now I understood how these pellets were "formed." I like teachers that makes their subject so interesting for the student.

The last teacher we visited was funny, but the subject was Math. He really didn't give us any constructive ideas to help our daughter in that subject. I just know that my kid will not ever be a Math major or minor. It would be nice if Math teachers would make their subject more interesting. Or at least break it down for those who just struggle with it. If they could do that, then they would be good teachers.

After the conferences at the HS, I came back with a positive feeling overall. I feel like she is getting a good education here.

Parent/Teacher Conferences are a good idea, it is a win-win situation.

Spring Cleaning

It started two days ago when L finally installed our over the oven microwave. Suddenly I had more counterspace room, something that I hadn't seen ever since we moved here over 16 years ago. More counterspace to put more junk on!

So I was looking at all that junk and decided to de-junk my kitchen, cabinet by cabinet. I found old cups that we got from fast food restaurants; tons of mugs that I picked up along my life's journey; and potlids with no pots to go under them. I am pondering why I kept these lids and yet seemingly there are no pots (anyway in the cabinets) that fit these.

Now for once I have a clean storage area of plastic dishes to keep food or to use in the microwave. I didn't have to go out or check online for an organizer. I just did it myself. Yes, that was an accomplishment. Usually I clean these things and just throw them in the cabinet hoping that they don't fall onto the floor. So it is organized. The kitchen is anyhow.

I carry those pot lids down to my basement and realize it is downstairs that is needed a ridding out. Boxes to be tossed, clothes to a goodwill store; old TV's that died and are too heavy to drag upstairs; and toys to go through that the kids have outgrown.

I think I want to keep these toys for the grandkids (hopefully that won't happen for at least another 10-15 years). Then I look back at the stuff my mom kept for her grandkids. She kept some toys and the rest are gone. I think back on some of the stuff that I had as a child and that is no longer in her house. It is sad, in some aspects, but yet, I know that she needed to rid out a lot of my toys too. So some day I am just going to spend some time in the basement to clear things out. It's just tough trying to decide which ones should stay or go.

Then I think I should have a garage sale with all these toys and stuff....but then I wonder if it would just be more prudent to give these to a Goodwill store.

How do you all part with your children's old toys and clothes? Let me know, I need some straight talk!

Selective Hearing

Have you ever told someone something and then the results of it shows up later on? I had a teacher who used to tell me (in grade school) something and then she would comment, "Well, it went in one ear and came out the other." In other words, she told me what she said, only I didn't hear or my brain didn't process it. I call it selective hearing.

You tell your kids to pick up their room or you need to read, etc. They answer back, "Blah, blah, whatever." Thirty minutes later the task doesn't get completed. So you tell them again and get the same old answer. By the fourth or fifth time you tell them you are beginning to nag at them, "I told YOU to DO THIS NOW....like a week ago and YOU CHOSE NOT to do this!" Then they wonder why they get a grade in a certain subject or why there is dust bunnies under the bed or whatever the case may be. You told them and they CHOSE NOT to listen. It is aggravating.

The same thing can happen (not just when you are trying to light a fire under your kids to get motivated) in everyday life. In our case, we had just bought a car from a dealership and our financial institution gives us a check, thus becoming the lienholder. You hand them the check and say, "Put XYZ credit union as the lien holder." They gladly take the check, with their Subway lunch in hand. A month later, we get the title and it is wrong. It's not that we didn't tell them that XYZ credit union, they chose not to listen. They were too involved with Subway and not getting things done right.

Selective Hearing is a bad thing to have. It can happen to children who don't listen to the parents or teachers and it can happen in business dealings too. It leaves a very bad impression on the buyers, in this case, whether they will pass on how great that particular car agency isn't. I think since it was their fault (not to listen) that if we have to pay a fine it should revert back to that particular dealership.

So the moral is to this story, ALWAYS listen carefully it could be your grade or your job and it will effect others.