Happy Birthday to me!

Today was my 54th birthday and while today was special, the whole weekend was fun. Saturday, I took part in a high school baseball scrimmage/umpire's clinic(Imagine umpiring baseball in January in most parts of the country!), then we all(Me, Kim, Jimmy, Snoopy and Smoke all drove to Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater to show off Jimmy, see friends, enjoy church at Papa Joe's Holy Trinity Episcopal in Clearwater, then have my birthday lunch at the famous Biff Burger with Ric, Debbie and Jimmy Deane. Ric and Debbie are my Jimmy's Godparents and Jimmy #2 is their son. It was fun! We stayed Saturday night with Kathy and Frank at their house in St. Petersburg. Jimmy played the piano with his new Uncle Frank and Snoopy was reunited with his buddy Scampie. And I got a nice card and a much needed pot holder, a/k/a a new belt. Earlier Saturday, we had dinner with Papa Joe and Mama Jan Diaz. Also there was Betty, who's late husband Jim is who we named our Jimmy after. It was a wonderful time. And at Papa Joe's church today, he was speaking early in the service, then as he began to introduce visitors, we walked back towards us and said "Give me my Grandson!" He then proceeded to show Jimmy off to the whole congregation. Kim and I were so thrilled!

It was a wonderful weekend filled with family, friends, good food and good weather. What made it extra special, was that it was my first birthday as a Daddy. The one sad part though, was that it was my first birthday without my Daddy. But, all-in-all, I really enjoyed the whole weekend.

Y'all have a great week everyone!

How y'all?

Well, it's another weekend in the paradise known as the Space Coast. Weather today calls for lots of sunshine and a high of 72. Loads better than our previous home, where today they'll have sunshine, a high of +6 and a low of -6 tonight, with wind chills between -15 and -20.

Work here is going well and it's pretty exciting to be back. Our move went well, with Jimmy, Snoopy and Smoke doing great on the trip. We got to stop outside Atlanta and visit with Kim's cousin Maryland, then spend some time with our adopted Mommy and new Daddy in Orlando. It was great fun, especially last Sunday, when we visited the church we were married in in Orlando. Everyone loved Jimmy, and it was fun to be back.

Today, I have a field clinic with the new umpire's association I've joined. It makes being back that much better, since umpires won't get out on the field where we came from for another two months. Then we're going to Clearwater to visit with Kim's adopted parents, Papa Joe and Mama Jan. We'll also get to visit Kim's good friend Kathy. That will be fun, because Snoopy will get to see Scampie again. Perhaps Snoopy will teach his brother Smoke how to use the doggie door, like he did Freckles. Hopefully, we'll get to spend time with Jimmy's Godparents, Ric and Debbie. Debbie came to Wisconsin in November, to be part of Jimmy's baptism. And, of course, this coming Sunday, the 25th, is my 54th birthday. Hopefully, we'll get to celebrate with a trip to Biff Burger in St. Petersburg. Yummy!

Have a good weekend everyone!

He did it!

Early this evening, as I was sitting in my chair, Jimmy was facing me while bouncing in his horsey bouncer. After gurgling out something that kinda sounded like Daddy, he looked straight at me and said(and I quote):

"Da Da!"

Boy, did that ever make me feel special!

I love you Jimmy!!!!

KEX Radio's Scott Lynn diagnosed with colon cancer

Scott Lynn, long time sportscaster in the Portland, Oregon market and current sports director of KEX Radio, was recently diagnosed with and operated on for colon cancer. The following letter from Scott appears on the station's website:

A note from Scott:

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Hey Friends,

My New Year’s holiday didn’t quite go the way I’d planned.

On Sunday, December 28th, I went to the hospital with extreme abdominal pain and the next thing I knew; I was having surgery for colon cancer!

The first few days have been a little rough and I look forward to recuperating at home. After some healing time, my doctors tell me I’ll need chemotherapy.

As I regain my strength, I look forward to getting back on the radio. I hope to be doing sportscasts from my home studio in the near future.

Thanks for your prayers and well wishes!

Talk to you soon!

Scott

If you'd like to send Scott a note, go to the station's website, http://www.1190kex.com/ and click where it says to. And, from all of us who are fighting or have already defeated colon cancer, like I did two years ago, please get yourself screened. If you are 50 years old or older, or if there is a history of colon cancer in your family, get tested at least ten years prior to the age at diagnosis of your relative. And if you suspect someone you know may be at risk of colon cancer, encourage them to get screened. Don't be embarrassed about it like so many have been. Colon cancer is the #2 cause of cancer deaths in the United States, but is easily curable, if detected and treated early.

God's blessings on you Scott. Get well and get back on the air soon!

WHL launches new website

Thanks to Rod Pedersen (http://rodpedersen.blogspot.com/) for the heads up on this one.

http://www.whl.ca/whl-launches-new-website-p127250

Has the climb out of the hole begun for Beavers basketball?

From the high of being the top-ranked men's college basketball team in the country back in the '80s, to the depths of last season's winless conference schedule and a 23 game conference losing streak, Oregon State's Men's basketball team receives little respect these days. That may be changing however, as Craig Robinson's team rallies from a 15 point second half deficit Saturday, to defeat USC in overtime, 62-58. Read this article from http://www.oregonlive.com/:

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindbeaversbeat/2009/01/an_example_of_what_coach_rob_i.html

and read what the Los Angeles-based media had to say in advance of the game. What's that old saying? Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it? Apparently, no one recalls the disrespect the Beavers football team received in 1985 when, in the middle of 28 straight losing seasons, they were made 35 point underdogs against the Washington Huskies and received less than zero respect from the Seattle media. Well, that team went into Husky Stadium, recovered a blocked punt for a late touchdown and won the game.

Sure, some opponents are that bad. But, those bad thoughts ae best kept in the privacy of one's own locker room. Which reminds me: How cranked will Tim Tebow be on Thursday's national title game, after what some Oklahoma players have been saying about him?

BTW: Read the Portland Tribune's story of the Beavers upset of USC here: http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=123111589487650100