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Post by vox on Mar 24, 2009 11:09:00 GMT -6
Away from home, miss hubs already!
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Post by Siren on Mar 24, 2009 23:17:35 GMT -6
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Post by Phalon on Mar 25, 2009 5:38:21 GMT -6
OMG! The Sweet Sixteen! How exciting!
Are you going to the game?
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Post by Siren on Apr 1, 2009 8:32:44 GMT -6
Hi guys - sorry for the lack of updates. It has been CRAZY here. But here's an update: yes, I did go to the games, and........ THE SOONERS MADE THE FINAL FOUR!!!! It was a hard-fought battle which I feel sure took years off my life, but they made it! I was able to attend both games (Sweet 16 vs Pittsburgh on Sunday, and Elite 8 vs Purdue late night). It was a great atmosphere - basically big home games for the Sooners, since they played at the Ford Center, only 30 minutes from their home court in Norman. There were over 11,000 people at the game last night - a sea of OU crimson with just an island of black (those plucky Purdue fans). But despite the friendly crowd, it was not easy for the Gals. We didn't shoot well, and had to overcome some very tall, athletic Purdue post players. It was just a grind all the way. But early in the second half, you could see our star, Courtney Paris, get fed up. Her neutral expression changed to one of annoyed determination. She proceeded to take over the game - playing smothering defense at one end, and scoring hard-fought points at the other. The rest of the Sooners rose to her level. And though it didn't get any easier, their extra effort made all the difference. soonersports.com/sports/w-baskbl/recaps/040109aaa.htmlBTW, Courtney received another accolade yesterday, one of the biggest of her career: she made the Associated Press All America team (a list of the nation's elite players, as voted by AP writers) for the 4th consecutive year - the first player ever to be chosen for it all 4 years of her career. When you consider the amazing players who didn't accomplish this, it is a staggering achievement. soonersports.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/033109aaa.htmlSince we are not attending the championships in St. Louis, we savored these last chances to see Courtney play in person. It has been a true privilege.
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Post by katina2nd on Apr 1, 2009 21:16:56 GMT -6
Fantastic news Siren, heck you must be over the moon right now. This is their year I reckon, and what more can you say about Courtney, she's shaping up as the Don Bradman of womens Basketball, and accolades don't come any higher then that. *Who's Don Bradman I hear someone ask?*
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Post by Phalon on Apr 1, 2009 21:38:56 GMT -6
O....M....G!!! The Final Four!!!
Cool beans, Siren! Keeping fingers crossed.
I give, Katina. Who's Don Bradman?
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Post by stepper on Apr 1, 2009 22:38:03 GMT -6
Got Blackberry. Tiny keyboard. Blew password.
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Post by katina2nd on Apr 2, 2009 1:08:55 GMT -6
I give, Katina. Who's Don Bradman? Ahhhh glad you asked Lady P. Sir Donald George Bradman, or The Don as he was affectionately known, was an Aussie Cricketer [ batsman ] during the thirties and forties who dominated his chosen sport like no other before or since has managed. Think of someone who was/is dominant at a particular sport, e.g. Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods, then raise the bar a couple of notches and you have "The Don." Statistician Charles Davis analysed the statistics for prominent sportsmen by comparing the number of standard deviations that they stand above the mean for their sport. The top performers are.... Bradman... Cricket... Batting average 4.4 Pelé... football ...Goals per game 3.7 Ty Cobb... Baseball... Batting average 3.6 Jack Nicklaus... Golf... Major titles 3.5 Michael Jordan... Basketball... Points per game 3.4 The statistics show that "no other athlete dominates an international sport to the extent that Bradman does cricket". In order to post a similarly dominant career statistic as Bradman, a baseball batter would need a career batting average of .392, while a basketball player would need to score an average of 43.0 points per game. The respective records are .366 and 30.1. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Bradman
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Post by Phalon on Apr 5, 2009 9:02:08 GMT -6
Thank you for the explanation, Katina.
And...
Good luck to the Sooners tonight!
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Post by quettalee on Apr 5, 2009 11:02:01 GMT -6
Louisville Cardinals, Lady Sooners...tuff choice!
Not really. Sorry, Siren. I was pulling for OU most of the season. Who knew the Lady Cards would get to the Final Four?! How exciting for a team that has never, ever been this far.
And sis, (on the mens' side) I think I remember you (Hubs) being Wolverine fans, right? But you gotta give the Spartans props for their heart, if nothing else. I was so glad they won last night. I was even pulling for them a little against Louisville...shh.
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Post by Siren on Apr 6, 2009 21:30:15 GMT -6
Thanks for the good wishes, guys. *sigh* (+ 6 words) Sooners lost by just two points. Rats. Rats. RATS!! Simple story: you must play BOTH halves of a game. The Sooners came out great, and played well in the first half. Really had Louisville on their heels, down by 12. But then came halftime. The Louisville coach made some key defensive adjustments, and lit a fire under his star, who had been held scoreless in the first half. Louisville took the lead, and it was neck in neck for awhile. Then, OU was down by 2 and had the ball with 8 seconds to go. We had an open shot for 3, to win the game. And it allllmost went in. Game over. A lackluster second half cost my gals the game. They just didn't have the urgency Louisville had. In the end, the deserving team won...darn it. www.soonersports.com/sports/w-baskbl/recaps/040509aaa.htmlI think UConn will beat Louisville handily tomorrow night. But what a great thing for Louisville, making their first appearance in the Big Dance.
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Post by katina2nd on Apr 7, 2009 20:26:05 GMT -6
Rotten luck, know how you feel.
Sheesh that must have been heartbreaking Siren, two lousy points.
It was a great effort by the girls to go as far as they did, but I guess that's small consolation for you right at this moment with the loss so fresh and the thought of "what could have been."
Been there done that more times then I like to remember, not a nice feeling.
Hopefully they can take that extra step next season.
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Post by quettalee on Apr 8, 2009 8:49:51 GMT -6
Shoo..they did...beat them handily by 22 points, that is. It should've been more than that save for some cold shooting by the Huskies in the first half.
What a great team UConn is and props to Geno Auriemma for his six championship rings. I'm not always crazy about him as a person, but he knows how to coach.
It was tuff to watch, but I'm very proud of the Cards for scapping their way to their first final. I would've like to see them play together as a team a little better. Imo, it's kinda like watching a good game of playground pick-up instead of a group that lives and spends hours a day together.
I almost wish OU had made it, Siren. I think it would've been a much better game.
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Post by Siren on Apr 9, 2009 7:18:24 GMT -6
I don't know, TG. UConn was so excellent this year, so balanced, that the outcome might (I think probably) have been the same no matter who their opponent was. Geno really does know how to build a basketball team. But as our friend Lola said, their victory "celebration" was lacking. They just didn't seem that excited. I wonder if Geno's coaching style might take some of the joy out of the game.
Thank you for the consolation, Kat. *sigh* I know you can relate to a team getting very, very close...but not quite getting there. You're right, getting to the Final 4 is a remarkable, fantastic thing. And this was only the second time in program history the Sooners had gotten that far. But we fans wanted the championship so very badly this year, particularly for Courtney and Ashley Paris. They have given so, so much to the program, and been such wonderful representatives of the school. We wanted them to have the ultimate finish to their careers. *sigh*
An ESPN reporter was tacky enough to stop Courtney immediately after the Final 4 loss, and remind her of her scholarship payback pledge. Courtney said that of course she would pay it back. That it would take time, but that she would pay it back. Now fans are talking about giving donations to pay it back for her. As one lady said, if every fan who ever watched or listened to a game, or worriedly watched the evening sports report, or checked the box score, or read the game recap gave just $5, it would more than pay back CP's scholarship. But I have a feeling that CP would give an equivalent amount anyway. She's that kind of person.
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Post by quettalee on Apr 9, 2009 11:03:09 GMT -6
I also think that this was one of the most "in poor taste" comments/questions ever spoken by a reporter. But she handled it with the style and grace that she always does--without even blinking an eye. She truly is a class-act lady.
I can't imagine OU even thinking about taking the money back outright. I can see some kind of fund being set up or a new wing to the journalism building or some type of scholarship being established--any number of ways the "debt" could be repayed if they are hell bent and bound on persuring her pledge or she is determined to give something back to the school.
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Post by Phalon on Apr 25, 2009 21:43:34 GMT -6
April showers bring May flowers....hopefully.
And if they do, judging from just the amount of rain we had today, May will be quite the florific month! It was like the sky just opened up and dumped buckets.
Florific? I'm making up words again.
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Post by stepper on Apr 25, 2009 22:17:32 GMT -6
April showers bring May flowers....hopefully. What do Mayflowers bring? Pilgrims! Yes I know. An old joke from when we were young, but what the heck. I'm jealous of the buckets 'o rain Phalon. We really need some here, even if it comes in buckets. The last round of rain bypassed us. It did nice things all around us, but not nearly enough, and right where I am all we got was teased. I haven't seen a rainbow in the past couple of years.
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Post by quettalee on Apr 26, 2009 1:04:12 GMT -6
Eighty-seven degrees in April; who knew?
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Post by Siren on Apr 29, 2009 22:26:20 GMT -6
Guys, please keep your hands washed. And if you're sick, STAY HOME! I want this bug to miss all of us.
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Post by moonglum on May 2, 2009 15:35:30 GMT -6
Totally agree Siren, stay well all.
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Post by stepper on May 2, 2009 15:41:28 GMT -6
Flu or no, gotta pay bills.
Alas, I'm right in the middle of one of the hot spots. So far, around here at least, the flu is proving to be no more serious than any other, except for (maybe) being a little more contagious. Still, there's no use in throwing caution to the wind. At work they have a plan to go to minimal manning if necessary, and the local schools have shut down - and now they're talking about being closed another week just to be safe.
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Post by Phalon on May 7, 2009 3:58:06 GMT -6
Cautious is one thing; panic another.
Sally Fields came to the nursery the other day - not the Sally Fields, of course - but the woman looks just like her, except Sally smiles; this woman does not. If I had to describe her personality in Hollywood celebrity terms, I'd pick Jack Nicholson in the movie "As Good As It Gets". She's obsessive/compulsive and will spend hours picking out the perfect plant with the perfect shape, perfect foliage, and perfect flowers, (I've always had the urge to carry pruners with me when showing her plants so I can trim them into perfect balls when her head is turned). We all try to avoid her when she comes in.....like she's got the swine flu.
After being at the nursery for an hour, Sally decided it was time to ask for help. I was in the middle of my lunch when she decided this. I tried to choke down my mouthful of apple on the way from the office to the front counter. It's not a far walk, but I managed to swallow the last bit before I reached her....sort of. A tiny piece got caught in my throat, and I coughed twice to dislodge it, covering my mouth, of course, so food wouldn't spray across the counter. They weren't even coughs really - more of "Ahems". But Sally took this as a sure sign my body was riddled with swine flu germs and jumped back at least five feet.
She recovered ever so slightly, and asked to see our burning bush. We walked out to the shrubs aisles; me in front, Sally walking ten feet behind. Our three varieties of burning weren't what she had in mind - two varieties were too big; the third was just "too wild" looking. Sigh. When I left her she was headed to the lilacs to wonder, I'm sure, why they weren't shaped like meatballs. I went back to finish my apple.
My co-worker was next up to deal with Sally. He had to drive her out back to where we keep our restock so she could look if we had any lilacs that were better shaped than the ones we had in the retail area, (we've got about twenty varieties up front; eight plants of each, and still she couldn't chose). Along the way, she told Paul that I really shouldn't be at work since I was so sick, and how long have I had that cough, and was I showing any other symptoms? Paul was puzzled, and told me he looked at her as if she was crazy - which she is.
Sigh. And she didn't buy anything.
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Post by Siren on May 7, 2009 9:47:01 GMT -6
I hope that woman never has kids, Gams. They're so...messy. *rolling eyes*
She reminds me of a regular customer at the burger joint where my sisters worked in high school. He was SUCH a pain in the *ss, one cook took great pleasure in "doctoring" his food. He always insisted that the cheese slice be "between the meats" on his double cheeseburger. Cindy, the cook, said, (her spatula propped on her hip) "I'll give him 'between the meats'.", and then threw both meat patties on the floor. She then put them on his burger - cheese properly placed - then served Mr. Picky his food.
Don't annoy the cook. And don't pester the plant proprietors!
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Post by stepper on May 7, 2009 20:01:52 GMT -6
Maybe you’re allergic to the customer.
But if that's all it takes, you could start practicing on your sneeze. (ahem...kachoo kerchew...which sounds more realistic?)
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Post by Phalon on Aug 14, 2009 6:09:35 GMT -6
"Melodramatic child. Quick! Call an agent!"
"She ought to be in pictures."
LX is sick, (and why are they always sick on the days you absolutely can not miss work?). She's sick enough to warrant seeing the doctor. But....
She: Am I going to the doctor's, the emergency room, or straight to intensive care?
Me: (eye-roll) I'm pretty sure this can be handled at the doctor's office.
She: I'm not sure I can walk to the car.
Me: (another eye-roll) I'm certainly not going to carry you.
She: That's why they make wheelchairs, Mom.
Me: (eye-roll again, with added laugh)
"Sympathy is not my strong suit."
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Post by quettalee on Aug 14, 2009 20:42:26 GMT -6
This gave me heart-smiles, sis. I can just see your eyes about to roll across the floor.
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Post by Phalon on Aug 15, 2009 5:02:16 GMT -6
Glad for you heart-smiles, Sis. And yep, I practically had to chase my eye-balls across the room after this one. LX is such a trip; I can't think of a better word to describe her, (maybe because I haven't had enough coffee yet this morning).
If you have a moment, check out this week's blog - it's LXccentric.
"Better get going; I'm running late."
I've used those six words before, haven't I.....nearly everyday, it seems.
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Post by stepper on Aug 15, 2009 18:59:49 GMT -6
Hopefully she's feeling better. There are few things sadder than a sick child.
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Post by Phalon on Aug 15, 2009 20:35:29 GMT -6
She's not feeling that much better, Stepper; thanks for asking. But she's getting better. A blocked salivary gland, (she's had it before, so now it seems like she's predisposed to the condition), and the poor kid's cheek swells up like she's got a baseball in there. The swelling has gone down some, so it seems the antibiotic is starting to kick in; if the past episodes are any indication, she'll be fine by Monday.
The lingering effects of the melodrama though are good for a few days longer. I figure she'll be able to make it out to the car, (without feeling the need for a wheelchair), by Friday.
I'm not being harsh, or uncaring...really, I'm not. Just being LX's Mom to LX's personality.
Gotta run - it's time for chilled cucumber slices; some for the side of her face, some for my sun-burnt eyes. May not help with her swelling any, but it feels good.
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Post by katina2nd on Aug 16, 2009 21:08:03 GMT -6
Sorry to hear LX has been sick Gams, glad to hear she's getting better, amazed at your perseverance and fortitude [ and good humour ] when dealing with a family "crisis" as this one surely was. Hey I thought it was only us guys and our "man sick" that were trouble in times like this.
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