Holy Crap and some random thoughts....

Holy Crap! (My favorite phrase from Achmed the dead terrorist)..
I simply refuse to apologize for not blogging since 3/16. I have been busy… Deal with it.

The weekend of March 28 took us camping out near Florence Junction. We had a fun time with the Myers clan. Glenn, Judy, Dan and Jerry were there too. We had a nice ride through Box canyon on Saturday. Peach cobbler in the Dutch oven that night was divine! The French fries were nothing special but those chicken wings we’ll see again for sure.

A rash of birthdays the last couple of weeks have our heads spinning. Steven, Melanie and I all have birthdays within 9 days. We went to Rock Bottom brewery for Steven’s day. I think we both agree that their steak is as good as or better than mine. I took last Friday off for an ATV ride from Lake Pleasant to Crown King with Steven and a friend from the office.

Chemo is rolling along and this week is the off week. Three more chemo Wednesdays and then all wrapped up. I think the next scan will be in May sometime. I do have an endoscopy and colonoscopy scheduled for later this month. It sounds like a real party!

More good news heard recently, Melanie and I are fans of a cover band called Shirley’s Temple. Stephanie who is the drummer was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. Her story can be found at http://caringbridge.org/visit/Spudtata . The latest news for her (Which is what I was referring to above) was that the lymph nodes removed from her were all cancer free and that no more surgery is expected to be necessary. A little Chemo and Radiation and all wrapped up.. Sound familiar? Congratulations Stephanie! We’re making cancer our bitch!

You know, I have never been obnoxious enough to think that everyone who coaches youth baseball has to do things the way I do but sometimes I just want to scream… One of the things I learned (too late) from my own son.. If he’s not having fun, I am not doing my job. That doesn’t apply to just my kid, but all the kids. Also, here’s a thought.. Own your mistakes as a coach. If you make a crappy decision on defensive assignments then own it instead of berating the kid who you are yelling at for making a mistake in a situation that you created. Make no assumptions on the ability of your own kids to play the game you love so much. There is a better than average chance that he’s not nearly as good as you think he is. If he is, be surprised and enjoy it. If he isn’t, do your job as a coach and put him in the position where he can best help the team. I made a point to track down one of our players last week after the game and compliment him on his efforts. I thought that the coach was too hard on him for the way the play developed. He’s too green to be expected to react any way other than he did.

There is something about babies and puppies that make you feel young. At least it does for me. Maybe it’s the thought of imagined possibilities being limitless. The optimism of that which is fresh and new, pure and unspoiled. The way things were meant to be. This past weekend we expanded our family by one six week old Labrador puppy. She is as cute as could possibly be. Her name is Maggie….. Fresh and new, pure and unspoiled…. There is nothing quite like hot puppy breath on your neck…

Hawaii, Hawaii, Hawaii…. I am sure my wife thinks I am a broken record.

Happy Easter to all…. Enjoy the blessings bestowed upon you this day.

More good news!!!! Steven got a job! Yahoo!!!!! Starts Monday at 6am… Save your money kid and buy a car so I don’t have to take you to work every day!!!

Enough for now… We’re enjoying the day in Flagstaff with family.