Lynne's Letters

That's Your Idea of Heaven?

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:46:00 +0000

This week my husband and I both felt we had died and gone to heaven.

My idea of heaven...

I got to go on a two-hour horseback ride with a friend who has this in her backyard

My husband's idea of heaven...

A Corvette detective he hired (yes there is and yes he did) located the original owner of his '67 Corvette, who was kind enough to forward the original dealer invoice, manual, radio instructions, and an old picture of the car.

Our ideas of heaven may be different

But having each other is heaven on earth

Flight Attendants and The Good Ol' Days

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:21:00 +0000

I remember flying in the good ol' days.

Back when the economy was good, everyone was happy, and the flight attendants - doing their best to please passengers - looked like this

And it worked both ways. If the flight attendants were happy, the passengers were happy.

Sometimes the flight attendants even took passengers' cameras down to the galley and snapped pictures to be developed after vacation that would extend special memories to the end of time.

I sure do miss those days.

Back when blankets and pillows didn't cost $8.00 and you didn't have to pay $39 extra to sit in the exit row.

Checking luggage didn't cost an extra $20 per bag.

And the flight attendants didn't look like this

Yep, those were the days.

(Disclaimer: To prevent unnecessary embarrassment and/or dismissals, my selective memory precludes me from recalling the name of any airlines in pictures posted above. Also, just a thought, do you think it's possible that the old flight attendant and one of the sexy flight attendants from the past are one and the same?)

Guess Who's (Not) Coming to Dinner?

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:21:00 +0000

Everyone who knows me knows I hate to cook. I’d rather pick up dog poop or stick pins in my eyes. I get very little enjoyment out of eating unless it’s ice cream or candy. I definitely eat just to survive, so why would I bother cooking?

My husband and son, however, prefer something other than mac-n-cheese or cereal (my personal favorite), so I figure once in a blue moon I can give up an hour of reading to do what most moms and wives do daily and with little effort…indulge them with real food.

So the other night I pretended to be Rachel Ray and chopped up and measured capers, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, wine

and chicken broth and put them in tiny condiment bowls,

ready to add to the chicken when the recipe beckoned.

When everything was almost finished, I texted my husband that dinner was ready.

He texted me back that he was on his way to a meeting, which I knew about but thought he’d come home first.

I yelled for my son to come to the table. He yelled back that he was going to dinner with his girlfriend.

So guess who came to dinner.

Yep…

Kim Crawford.

We had a great time.

No hard feelings. I’ll cook for my family again sometime.

Next year.

You Can Take All My Organs

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:50:00 +0000

Last night I went to dinner with all the girls from our Colorado trip.

We had sushi and chatted about how much fun it was to shop, eat, and soak in the hot springs.

During dinner we touched on a variety of topics (as women are wont to do), including old age, which led to me talking about the funeral I had attended days before. To lighten the mood we moved to a more comical discussion about how we wanted to be "disposed of" when we died. I said I didn't want to be buried in the ground, didn't want relatives to feel they had to visit my grave, and that I wanted to be cremated and scattered in the ocean near where I grew up. And then I said, "Oh, and take all my organs; I won't need them anyway, so take whatever you want!"

My friend Katie (3rd from right) - who is 5'2" - said...

"Can I have your legs?"

Lynne's Lowdown - Feb 25th

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:25:00 +0000

The girls' ski trip was fun, fun, fun. Nobody skied because it was snowy and cold (hmm...imagine that). So we shopped. And I took pictures of dogs and bookstores.

"Off the Beaten Path" Bookstore where my friends left me. They had a fireplace and couches and coffee and books. I was miserable.

A store guard dog named Bosco who was sleeping on the job. He's a Giant (and I mean GIANT) Alaskan Malamute.
We stopped at a place where a man sells anything and everything made out of antlers. It was very bizarre.
The man's house.
The shed where he makes the crafts.
Darling skating rink in the shopping area where we went to dinner.
I went with five other girls and we hooked up with some other friends for dinner in Vail before heading to Steamboat Springs. I'm in the back row in the middle with the brown jacket.

The Latest Lowdown:

Neurology appointment: Diagnosis - migraines. We figured as much, but Eric got a prescription for a "vessel shrinking" medication called Maxalt and was told to take that and 3 Advils when he feels a migraine coming on.

Lumbar CT scan/ortho visit today: Good news! On the scan the doctor could see a slight black line where the fractures were, but since new bone is growing all around, E is healed and free to lift weights and play b-ball. Yay.

Tidbit for the uncles: E can now do a two-handed dunk. Not sure how he discovered that since he wasn't supposed to be doing anything but free-throws, but anyway, he's excited about that and ready to take you guys ON.

More basketball news: We found out that seven current varsity players won't be playing next year. Most of them play football and are going to focus on that. At least I hope that's the reason and not because of the coach. I don't know, though. Guess we'll find out.

You Can't Make Out in the Front Row

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:15:00 +0000

I long for the days when my son was young, when he would smile for the camera and say "cheeeeese" when I asked him to.

Last night, as he headed out on his Valentine's date with his new girlfriend and looked so cute, I asked if I could take his picture.

"No."

Actually, it was more like, "Mom, no! I gotta go," growling the way only 16-year-old boys can.

So this is the best I could do...

I felt like the paparazzi trying to snap a picture of a celebrity on vacation.

So yeah, he has a new girlfriend and he gets mad when I write stuff on the blog about him and post pictures of him, so I'm sure he won't be happy that I'm even mentioning this, but my job here is to keep my family informed, and what with the economy these days, lord knows I need my job.

Onward...

After making reservations earlier, E headed out in a blizzard to pick up his date/new girlfriend (what kind of mom allows their 16-year-old who's been driving less than a month out in a blizzard, I'm still trying to figure out), and took her to a fancy restaurant. He even bought her perfume! I told him if she didn't like it to please give it to me; I'd give anything for an $80 bottle of Juicy Couture perfume. And yes, I am chopped liver.

After dinner they went to a movie, but because the front row is not suitable for making out, they left during the previews. Lesson 1 learned too late: You CAN get a refund for not wanting to sit in the front row, just leave out the you can't make out in the front row part. Twenty-something dollars down the drain.

He drove her back to our house (still a blizzard outside but that could be an exaggeration), probably thinking he could make out here. They hung out for a while - with the door open - and then later went back out in the *blizzard* to take her home.

Lesson 2 learned too late: Dating is expensive.

We'll just leave it at that.

I am so in trouble.

Here's a bit of "Lowdown" that won't get me in trouble:

I'm going to Colorado on Thursday for a girls' trip. I'm not going to ski, but some of the girls are. My knees hurt when I ski. Actually everything hurts when I ski. I told them I'll just keep the jacuzzi warm (hmm, that doesn't sound right). We'll only be gone for three nights. I'm hopeful my son and dogs will still be alive when I get home. I trust my husband completely, it's just that, I don't know, sometimes I have to text him when I'm out of town to remind him to be sure the dogs have water. Kinda scary.

I made an appointment for Eric to see a neurologist next week. He's been having migraines for a year, and this past week he's had three or four. With all the school he's been missing, I figure I'd better have him checked out. I know, what kind of mom waits a year before taking her son to get checked for migraines. I won't win Mom of the Year this year anyway, will I?

E's lumbar CT scan is next Thursday. He's dying to play basketball again.

Happy Birthday to my Dad today! I don't know about you, but I'd sure love to be another year older - in Maui.

My dad pretending to be scouting the sea for baseball talent... Although, the team IS called the Marlins. I guess that works.

He insists he doesn't have a golf club in his hand, that it's just a cane...

And just so my dad feels extra sorry for me, I leave you - and him - with a picture from my house this morning.

Do All Couples Do This Together?

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:26:00 +0000

Today my husband and I went and did something many couples do together. It was my first time, but he is a regular.

He took me to a seedy part of town...

to a shooting range...

where I learned to shoot...

and my husband learned...

he better not mess with me...

Stella is Not a Loser...She's Aesthetically Challenged

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:26:00 +0000

Don't feel bad that Stella only has 2 votes in the beauty contest.

You know how the producers of The Bachelor use the loser as the next Bachelor or Bachelorette? Because Stella got so few votes, she was asked to be on the cover of WOOF Magazine...sort of a consolation prize. So now she's basking in all the glory. Hey, sometimes it pays to be a loser.

She sure is cute, though, eh?

There's still time to vote for K...um, I mean, for the dog you think is the cutest one of all (KC, KC, KC...). You have until February 21st so Click here. Be sure to scroll down to the "Best Dog" category where KC is in 2nd place!! She only needs a few more votes to win. Stella's already a ~~loser~~ cover star anyway, so vote for KC.

KC NEEDS YOUR VOTE!

Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beholder (or the one with the most votes)

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:01:00 +0000

Hi everyone, KC and Stella are contestants in a "beauty" contest. Please vote for them!!

Click here to see their pictures and then scroll to bottom of that post to vote. Contest ends Feb. 21st.

Thanks :)

Can you believe that's all I have for the week? At least I'm getting lots of reading done.

The Cost of a Flat Tire?

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:57:00 +0000

The cost of getting a flat tire in a grocery store parking lot on a Friday night out with your friends...

A can of Fix-A-Flat?

$5.99

A can of Red Bull and bag of beef jerkey while waiting for Larry to bring a can of Fix-a-Flat? $10.72

Gas to drive home (slowly) on a temporarily fixed flat tire?

$3.37

Learning to change your own flat tire...

PRICELESS

Lynne's Lowdown

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:39:00 +0000

The (Short) Lowdown:

Took Eric to his orthopedist appointment yesterday. Everything is going well. He's in the home stretch, as the doctor put it. Next week he'll start sport-specific therapy, working on basketball motions. He's allowed to shoot free throws now. In four weeks he'll have a CT scan and hopefully be released to start (slowly) playing basketball again.

KC's obedience training?

Umm....

Not so great.

She was just sitting there, like, "What's for dinner?"

Speaking of obedience, KC is never going to pass the class to become a therapy dog. The instructor brought out a wheelchair to see how the dogs would react and KC was absolutely terrified. Also, when a tennis ball was thrown and the dogs were supposed to ignore it as it rolled by? KC was obsessed and couldn't stop thinking about it even when we moved on to another part of class.

So much for that.

Lynne's Lowdown

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:56:00 +0000

The Skinny (Lowdown):

Eric's been enjoying, and doing great with, driving since he got his license. So much so that I haven't seen him since last Wednesday.

I'm having a bone density scan tomorrow just to get a baseline. I already know I'm dense, so what's the point?

KC is doing so-so with her obedience classes. Her toughest challenge is obeying the "leave it!" command when a refrigerator-sized bone is placed in the middle of the room; she has yet to master the ability to over-ride her salivating sensory receptors. We're working on it.

Eric has a follow up appointment with the orthopedist this Thursday. I think he's grown another inch, so does that mean another month of physical therapy? Let's hope not.

Have you visited my book blog lately? Emma, my new book review assistant, has been promoted to "header model." Funny, I've had more comments on her than on the books I've reviewed. Go on, check her out, but please don't leave a comment about how cute she is. I'm not sure she can handle the accolades. Lynne's Book Reviews

It's a wonder I get any reading done with these two on my lap vying for attention.

He's Free at Last

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:38:00 +0000

A few pictures from Eric's 16th birthday party that my wonderful friend Julie had for him. How many people have birthday parties for their friends' children?!

Eric, Taylor (Julie's son) and Brian (Eric's "Big Brother" through
the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program.)

A mother's admiring look :)

Me, Eric and Marlys (Brian's wife)

And guess what Eric got today...

Lynne's Lowdown

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:36:00 +0000

The lowdown:

Saw the movie Precious last week. Difficult to watch, but the acting is a-mazing!

Looking forward to the movie The Hurt Locker. It came out in DVD on 1/12. Supposed to be the best film of 2009.

KC had her first obedience training class and did a great job. Trying to practice with her at home.

Have had severe back pain for the last week. I was reading on the couch with my legs tucked under me with my back kind of twisted, and when I got up I could tell something was wrong. Eric thinks it's hilarious that someone could hurt their back while reading.

Eric practiced parallel parking with trash cans for his upcoming driving test and he did it perfectly on the first try. He did it again about 10 more times and totally had it down pat. Must be hereditary.

Jason, who graduates from USC in May, finds out January 21st if he got a position with Teach for America, and if so, what town he'll be in. He applied for jobs in Chicago, St. Louis and Los Angeles. I hope it's St. Louis; he makes us laugh, and I love watching the camaraderie between him and Eric.

When Jason left after Christmas break, Eric started drinking weight gainer shakes, even taking powder in a bottle to school every day. Jason is a great motivator and wants to see Eric succeed in basketball. He's already gained about 6 pounds.

I decided to collect newspapers for the Animal Protective Association, but when I brought in a stack to them I came out crying. I am such a wimp! At the front desk was a guy who was all teary-eyed because he was giving up his two dogs. His landlord wouldn't allow them. He said it was the hardest thing he's ever had to do. That and a darling yellow lab/retriever mix in a kennel who wanted me to take her home so badly she cried. Me and stray dogs with big sad eyes don't do well together. I spent the next week obsessing about whether or not she got adopted. So much for that recycling endeavor.

For my niece Alana's 7th birthday party, she asked her invited guests to donate to Stray Rescue in lieu of presents. She's my hero.

Driving Me Crazy

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:50:00 +0000

Dear Siblings,

I found a baby picture of myself! Okay, so maybe I really wasn't adopted.

This is much cuter

Than this

Don't you agree?

Thanks a lot, guys, for using the ugliest picture of me ever. So now that the joke is over, can you please change it out so when mom looks at her pictures I look as cute as (probably cuter than, really) all of you?

Moving on...

Eric's report card was really good this semester, 4 B's and 2 B+'s.

Physical therapy went great yesterday. E got into it and worked hard. I love his physical therapist, Tom, who helped me get back to running after my herniated disc and spinal stenosis years ago. He's amazing. After Eric's next ortho check in 4 weeks, he'll get to start sport-specific physical therapy. Tom is great for that and plans to work on core strengthening.

It's supposed to snow 4 or 5 inches here tonight. You don't know how excited Eric is about that. Well, about having a snow day and missing school, anyway.

Two more weeks and we'll have another driver in the house. E will be 16 on January 17th. You know how excited I've been about not having to drive him all over Timbuktu, right? Well now I'm getting nervous. What if he texts while he's driving? What if he gets pulled over after midnight? What if he drinks and drives? Holy cow. Can I change my mind about wishing time away? It's like when they're little and you can't wait for them to start walking so you don't have to carry them anymore. But then they start walking and it opens up a whole new set of problems. And then you wish again for the days when you put them in one spot and they just stayed there. Aye, aye, aye.

Off to the grocery store for beef stew ingredients, as well as hot chocolate, marshmallows and fire starter logs. We may be stuck for a day or two and I want to be prepared.

Emma Reads / A Bit of Lowdown

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:15:00 +0000

How funny is this picture of Emma? Trudy sent it to me as a thank you for the book we got her, "Why Dogs are Better than Cats."

Emma is a reader just like me :)

And her middle name is Jane, not Grace as I erroneously reported in the previous post.

A Bit of Lowdown...

While in California, Ryan, Krista, Eric, and my mom and I went to see The Blind Side. It was my second time seeing it. Have you seen it yet? You really must. It's amazing.

Took E to his doctor's appointment the other day to check on his back and he's been released to do a bit of cardio, elliptical and bike only. He went to the gym yesterday with Jason and Larry and rode the bike for 45 minutes. He also starts physical therapy tomorrow.

School started back for Eric today, but after getting dressed and with the car all started and warmed up (it's 9 degrees), he felt a migraine coming on. So he took two Excedrins and went back to bed.

Larry got an iPhone yesterday, so now I'm the only one in our family without one. Not only that, but I didn't even get a Kindle for Christmas. Isn't that the saddest thing you've ever heard? I think I'll have myself a little pity party today...violin and all.

California Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:43:00 +0000

My dad called yesterday and said, "You've been home for three days now, so why haven't you updated the blog yet?" Or something to that effect.

So thanks to dad, here (finally!) are a few highlights from our California trip.

We gave pictures to my mom for Christmas of us as babies (except for me...Since I was adopted, they only had an older one of me. Just kidding. Nobody could find a baby picture of me. Hmmm, maybe I was adopted). My mom never cries, but she shed a few tears when she opened this box.

Ryan

Krista

Mike

Gary

The adopted one... Me

Eric and his step-cousin Ricci (my stepdad's Bob's daughter Cori's daughter - did you get that?)

Cori

Uncle Dick, my mom, and Aunt Lyn

Channing

My nephew Mark with Channing

My sister Krista and Mark

My brother Ryan

My niece Maysen with Cabo

Is that an ocean view or is that an ocean view? (At my mom and Bob's house in Redondo Beach. From the left, my mom, Mike, Eric, Ryan, Maysen, Gary and Bob)

Eric and Kelly having their annual "who's taller" photo taken. Somehow Kelly keeps shrinking. (I don't know whose face is funnier, Gary's or Krista's.)

At my dad and Trudy's. From the left, Maysen, Gary, Ryan, Mark, Krista and Dad.

Ryan coming up just a tad short

"Emma Grace" and Annie

I forgot to crop this before posting it.

Eric, Ryan and Surfer Boy, um, I mean Gary

Krista, this is basketball not dancing...

Ryan means business

Coach Eric - bestowed such an honor due to doctor's orders - and his co-coaches Emma and Annie

It's a bird....

It's a plane...

It's Annie and Emma waiting patiently for a treat

Psycho, Trudy's guinea pig

Um, Emma, I think you're supposed to curl up in the bed to sleep???

"Whatch you talkin' 'bout Willis?"

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Lynne's Lowdown / Santa Visit

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:37:00 +0000

The kids at Children's Hospital won't be able to resist my cute little cockapoo, KC, after I take her - starting in January - to support dog training. I've decided I'm not going to let my dad and Trudy one-up me now that they have Emma. I'm going to have my own support dog. KC will go through six weeks of obedience training and then hopefully enter the program to become a therapy dog through Support Dogs, Inc. (Dad, you think I'm kidding, don't you.)

Really, though, this is something I've always wanted to do. I would love to cheer people up in the hospital, especially kids, and KC just makes you smile when you see her little butt wiggling like an Energizer battery. I don't know if she'll get into the program, but she's really smart and she absolutely loves people, so we'll see :)

If you haven't seen the movie "The Blind Side," GO SEE IT!! Sandra Bullock is amazing. The story, which is true, will warm the cockles of your heart (what's a "cockle" anyway?) And I didn't even cry...until the end. Seriously, don't miss it.

I dragged Eric, kicking and screaming, to volunteer at a PetsMart adoption day for service hours that he needed for school. Oh my gosh, the drama. "Why do I have to do that? I can just do laundry or mow the lawn or something. That counts as service hours." We both ended up having the best time. I've volunteered for them before, and because Eric loves animals I knew he would get into it and would like it. He was just doing his mandatory teenage whining. Eric helped with the adoptions by talking to potential adopters and walking dogs around, and I helped with Santa pictures, trying to get the dogs to "smile." The time went by fast and a few of the dogs ended up getting adopted, which made it even more fun.

I took KC and Stella back later so they could tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas, plus the money went to help the animal shelter.

Stella was terrified of Santa.

KC would have sat there for 15 minutes.

If I don't post again before Christmas, I hope everyone has a Merry, Merry one!

Dogs Don't Sleep Outside Anymore

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:07:00 +0000

When we were kids we got a dog. His name was Gulliver.

He was not allowed in the house.

If we wanted to sleep with him, we had to sleep outside.

Now dogs sleep in beds like this

or bunk bed / play houses like this

They wear costumes

and dresses

and t-shirts

and rain coats

and fur-lined boots

and pajamas

Then they have armoires for their wardrobes

They get walked around in strollers

or carried like a purse

They are carried in slings

and Doggie Bjorns

from puptogo.com

They even wear "doggles" to protect their eyes from the sun.

Nope.

Dogs don't sleep outside anymore.

Go to the doggievogue.com website for all your doggie needs...

or just to laugh at how much things have changed since you had to sleep outside with your dog.

Super Models

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:38:00 +0000

Yesterday's photo shoot...

Being a super model is hard work...

Nothing for Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:02:00 +0000

What do I want for Christmas?

Absolutely nothing.

I have all I want or need...

a loving family, my health, a roof over my head.

Really. No presents at all.

Not even a book.

I'm so grateful for everything in my life.

I don't want anything.

I don't need material things to make me happy.

Lynne's Lowdown

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:24:00 +0000

Time for the lowdown.

My "other son," Taylor Dee was voted yesterday as First Team All State Linebacker AND Defensive Player of the Year for Division 2A. For all of Missouri. Hopefully that will earn him a college scholarship...somewhere...anywhere! Woo hoo, T! So proud of you.

I went to SIX high school basketball games in FIVE days. Yes, my butt is sore.

I'm doing all my Christmas shopping online because salespeople are pushy and annoying. If I want to sample the latest perfume or join the 3 for 5 bra and panty club, I promise I will hunt you down. Leave me alone, people!

So yes, everyone's presents this year will be from something dot com.

Since Eric can't play basketball with his team, you'd better believe we're going to take advantage of the situation and go to California to be with our family for Christmas. December 23rd - 30th. Can't wait. I guess that was God's plan for us.

Speaking of God's plan, which I believe in with all my heart, my dad told Eric this story a few days ago to help him feel better about his injury and not being able to play:

In the winter of 1966, when Gary was 4 years old and I was 2, my dad had just had his best year ever with the Dodgers, and because of that he was about to take over Sandy Koufax's spot in the pitching rotation. Still a kid himself, at 22, he was out playing basketball for fun and ended up hurting his knee. Like Eric, he was mad and upset. He thought, how could this happen now, when he was doing so well.

In the middle of the night one night he rolled over in bed and his knee hurt him so bad that it woke him up. He smelled smoke. Our house was completely engulfed in flames. The bedroom door was on fire. My mom was coughing because of the smoke. They had to crawl on the floor to get us out of our rooms.

My dad is absolutely positive that had he not hurt his knee and woken up from the pain, we all would have died. His point to Eric was that God has a plan and orchestrates everything that happens in our lives. Sometimes we don't understand why things happen, especially when it's something bad, but He uses all of it for our good. Somehow. Someway. He does everything because He loves us. And it's awesome when we're able to look back on something sad, devastating, hurtful or tragic, and see the good that came out of it in end. Sometimes, though, we're never able to see or understand why things happen, but we just have to have faith that He knows what's best for us. And that I truly believe.

State Finals and Thanksgiving - Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:43:00 +0000

I'm finally getting around to posting pictures from the state finals. Brentwood had a great run, but they just couldn't fight off Maryville.

The way the city of Brentwood came together to support the high school football team was incredible.

Enjoy the pics, which include the escorted send-off as the boys headed to the game and a few before and after game pictures.

Julie and Mary, with Ashley under the sign on the right :) at the send-off before the game

Julie, Mary, and me holding the "Tractor Taylor Dee" poster. That's what the Brentwood announcer calls Taylor.

Another sign for Taylor

So many people drove by and honked their horns and waved.

Here they come down the street, with sirens blaring!

Taylor before the game getting everyone pumped up

These boys pray before every game

A black and white version

A wider shot

The captains, Taylor, Tywan and Tommy

Taylor after the game holding the Eagles' runner-up trophy. They should be proud!!

Thanksgiving was wonderful. Larry's family came over and we ate 'til we were stuffed.
Martha Stewart...I mean, my mom, wanted to see my Thanksgiving table, so here you go.

OH! One more thing. Please go to my book blog really quick by clicking HERE and scroll down a couple posts to the book review on "The Dogs Who Found Me." You have to read the quick story about my neighbor and the dog she saved at the pound that was on its death bed. You can even skip the book review and go to the title "My Neighbor" in bold. Heartwarming. The woman is a saint.

MRI Results

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:58:00 +0000

Oh boy, not good.

No basketball for three months. No activity whatsoever for 4 weeks; physical therapy after that, if his pain is improved during physical testing by the doctor.

There are two stress fractures, both at the L5 level in the pars interarticularis. One fracture is worse than the other; one was a new fracture, the other was older. We don't know what caused the fractures.

Eric was the third person today, his age, that his doctor saw with the same diagnosis. It's common. Nothing to do for it but refrain from physical activity. The doctor gave him permission to be a "couch potato."

The news is hard for E, especially since the team got their new shoes yesterday as well as their new warm-ups (really cool maroon sweats and warm-up jacket). He was so excited. The roster has been printed out. The players were introduced at a parent meeting.

But hey, it happens.

It will heal.

It could be worse.

Right?

Lynne's Lowdown

noreply@blogger.com (Lynne) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:52:00 +0000

lowdown definition
☆ low·down (lō′do̵un′; for adj., -do̵un′)

noun

Slang the true, pertinent facts; esp., secret or inside information: with the

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Brentwood game at the Edward Jones Dome will be televised on Fox Sports Midwest at 1:00 today.

Here's a great article from today's Post Dispatch about the "boys from Brentwood."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My new favorite show is on Animal Planet; it's called Pitbulls and Parolees. It's about a lady who owns the largest pitbull rescue in the country and she employs parolees who otherwise would not be able to get a job because of their felony records. It's sooo good!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Is anyone else upset about the new government sponsored mammogram guidelines suggesting women wait until age 50 to have their first mammogram unless they have a family history of breast cancer? What!!?? Eighty-five percent of women with breast cancer do NOT have a family history. Also, by the time a cancerous lump can be felt, it has been growing for 8-10 years! Ask my stepsister Gina, who wouldn't be alive today under these new guidelines how she feels about this. If you are a woman or you know a woman, you should be outraged.

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Who was I kidding when I told myself the limited edition white fudge Oreo cookies I put in my shopping cart the other day are for Eric? Honestly.

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I've listened to both of my parents...in one week. Turns out they're smarter than I thought.

First of all, I've taken my mom's advice to take Calcium pills with vitamin D. My mom's mom had osteoporosis and now she does, and because it's easier to prevent than to treat, I thought I'd better start now.

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Then, thanks to my dad, who insisted Eric see a doctor about his back problem, as well as my stepdad, we were able to get Eric in to see one of the Blues' orthopedists. Larry Pleau (the Blues GM) and Ray Barelli (the Blues trainer) pulled major strings to get us an emergency appointment. I can't thank them enough.

Good thing I'm such an obedient daughter, because the doctor took an x-ray and found...

Get this...

TWO broken bones in Eric's back. No wonder his back hurt when he went to practice and tried to play through the pain the other day.

We don't know when it happened, or how, but an MRI is scheduled for Monday and with that the doctor will be able to tell if it's an old fracture or a new fracture. If it's an old fracture there is a concern and question as to why it hasn't healed, and if this is the case Eric could be out for three months. If it's a new fracture it could be a shorter period of time. All we know is that for now he is not to play basketball. Eric is soooo bummed. But I'm glad we finally got an answer. We had a physical therapy appointment (I was going to try that route since the chiropractor didn't help) later that same day, and the doctor told us absolutely not. The bones need to heal.

Hope everyone had a great Turkey Day!

See you at the Dome!!