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...!