Sports Girl Next Door

The Masters, in all its beauty ~ Texas Rangers ~ Dallas Mavs ~ Get Outside

2021-04-08T21:35:00.003-05:00

The Masters

The ultimate Bucket List item and one of the ones that exceeded my expectations.

If you play golf, have a family member who makes you watch golf or take naps to golf, you understand that The Masters is the holy grail of golf tournaments. It is the only PGA tournament that is played in the same location every year, Augusta, Georgia.

Thanks to very dear friends of mine, I had the chance to walk through the azaleas, experience the serenity of Amen Corner and watch the players skip golf balls across the water at Hole 16. If they allowed people to sleep on the grass, I would have stayed forever.

We were there for two days of practice rounds, which is fun because the players are relaxed and cut up with one another. They cancelled the Par 3 Contest, which was sad, but just being there was the most wonderful feeling ever.

You can't take phones in, so I even called my parents from the phones at Augusta, just to do so. We also didn't realize you could bring in a real camera, so I purchased a disposable camera from 2004... I'll let y'all know how the photos turn out in 4-6 weeks.

Photo from outside the course - ha!

I wish I could describe it better, but it's as beautiful as you would imagine and then some. There isn't an arboretum or garden that looks and smells better than the fairways at Augusta. And not to mention the food. It is exactly what everyone said, $1.50 pimento cheese sandwiches and $1.50 sweet tea. I mean, life does not get better! And yes, I ate all the gluten. Didn't care, it's THE MASTERS!

Fun fact: Augusta National Golf course was a nursery in the 1920's, before it was turned into a golf course. And President Eisenhower was an early member, which is why there is a street named after him.

I also got to fist bump Scott Van Pelt from ESPN. Y'all, he is who I've grown up watching and he's the tallest and nicest guy. He stood near the 1st tee box and told stories to any patrons that wanted to listen. Class act!

THE TOURNAMENT

The tournament was cancelled in April last year and moved to November 2020. Dustin Johnson walked away with the W, coming off the 2019 victory by Tiger Woods. I hope this year it is as epic as the last two. Check out the Champions dinner menu that DJ picked out.

With Jordan Spieth's win at the Texas Valero Open this past weekend, he could carry that momentum into Sunday at The Masters, but he's not off to the best start on Thursday. Hopefully we see him comeback and the new Father Jon Rahm.

Here is the current leaderboard.

Justin Rose is in the lead at -7 under, which is amazing with how fast the greens are. These guys have been missing the fairways left and right; especially Bryson and Brooks. The rest of the weekend should be fun! We'll see which 50 players make the cut and if rain impacts the play at all.

The history, the tradition, the greenery and the yellow accents (the happiest color in the world)... it was perfection, and it always will be. Nothing is digital, everything is personal and we didn't meet a person that wasn't kind and hospitable.

I will say this, if you are a fan of the game and can find a way to get tickets, save up until you're able to do so. It will be worth it!

To watch The Masters (if you don't have the golf channel), you can live stream it Thursday and Friday from their website and app or watch it on ESPN later in the evening.

#TheMasters

#BucketList

#Thankful

#Yellow

Texas Rangers (3-3)

Opening Day was on April 5th! We are not off to the best start, but we have a long way to go.

First things first, FANS ARE BACK AT THE STADIUM!!!! This is our brand new stadium that was built for the 2020 season, but we were not able to go. Only those who attended the post-season games and World Series in 2020 got to see the stadium before us.

But, now it's our turn!

Remember to be respectful, but also be FANS! The wave his prohibited. If you're doing the wave, it means you're bored and you should probably have stayed at home and watched TV. It's okay, not everyone can hang for the full length of a game, but that's why you go, to see something done that you've never seen before. And to see it in person. #makinghistory

Not only will the stadium look different, but you may not recognize a few of the players. I'm not sure if we're still "re-building," but we are making trades more often than I'd like.

Players that are new to the team:

Catcher: Jonah Heim

Short Stop: Charlie Culberson

2nd Baseman: Brock Holt

1st Baseman: Nate Lowe

Left Fielder: David Dahl

Pitcher (RH): Mike Foltynewicz

Pitcher (RH): Kohei Arihara

Pitcher (RH): Dane Dunning

Pitcher (RH): Brett de Geus

Odor is gone, Elvis is gone, Beltre was gone a long time ago. No David Murphy or Mitch Moreland. All of the guys from the 2000's are gone. It's a new dawn, it's a new day.

Let's Go Rangers!

@ESPN

I get to go to my first game Friday night vs. the Padres, I'll let y'all know how it goes. I'm sure I'll take a pic or two.

#LetsGoRangers

#TexasRangers

Dallas Mavericks 28-22 (wins-losses)

We won five straight and then lost to the Houston Rockets Wednesday night.

Luka leads the team in all but blocks, but everyone is contributing! When Brunson gets hot, he is unstoppable. He has had quite a few games with 20+ points, but we need him to do that every night. Kidding, but Luka can't get worn out if we do make it to the Playoffs. He is averaging five minutes more than Porzingis and Hardaway Jr. per game and has averaged 8 point more per game.

Hopefully they get the W over Milwaukee tonight to help us close the gap between us and the Portland Trailblazers, who have a slightly better record in the Western Conference.

As of now, we're ranked 7th in the West. If we played in the East, we'd be in the 4th place spot. Interesting.

From ESPN

#MFFL

#LukaDoncic

#Luka

#NBA

Random Thoughts

The weather is beautiful in Texas.

Get outside. Learn a new sport. Make new friends.

I am so thankful that a great friend of mine invited me to play tennis a few months ago. I still can't serve to save my life, but it has been so fun and gives me a break from working on my golf game, which needs some WORK!

Live life fully and freely!! There is nothing to fear!!

#hugsomeone

#trustJesus

#pray

#havefun

#tennis

#friends

~smile~

Dallas Mavs ~ Texas Rangers ~ Thoughts on the Super Bowl ~ Dallas is Freezing

2021-02-12T22:50:00.001-06:00

Dallas Mavericks 13-14 (wins-losses)

I feel like we've been on a rollercoaster with the Mavs, but I like the direction we're going now.

As for how NBA and NFL players feel about our cold weather... that's a funnier story.

The Mavs longest stretch of losses was six games in mid-January. It was not fun and the team looked confused as to why they couldn't pull out a win.

A few guys have been out, off and on, due to illness or injury, but now they're all back and are rolling. Especially Kristaps Porzingis.

They keep joking that he's playing how he did back in September 2020 when they were in the NBA bubble, before his knee injury. Now that he has healed and is playing more minutes per game, he has been on fire! To see a 7'3" guy drain 3 pointers like he does is amazing. I mean, if he raises his arms, they're already above the rim, so he just has to put the right arc on it and swish. So cool!

His stats vs. the Pelicans in Friday night's victory: 32 minutes played, 36 points, 7 rebounds, 8 3-point shots made.

Add his game to what Hardaway Jr., Luka, Brunson, Finney-Smith and all of these guys are already doing, it's lights out. No more losses by 31 points to the Warriors. We won the double header and have won the three games since.

Luka's stats vs. the Pelicans in Friday night's victory: 40 minutes, 46 points, 8 rebounds, 12 assists, 5 3-point shots made - CAREER HIGH points for Luka! Totally outplayed Zion Williamson.

*Assuming you'll be snowed in on Valentine's Day, you can watch the Mavs play Portland, if they can get to the AAC*

From ESPN

#MFFL

#LukaDoncic

#Luka

#NBA

Texas Rangers

Elvis has left the building. And we didn't even get to see him play his last game in person. I guess that is the hard part about trades.

It's kind of sad since we had a countdown to Adrian Beltre's last games and those of any player who we knew was going to retire. I flew to NYC when Derek Jeter retired and got to see his last home run in Yankee Stadium. Only bummer is that it was the new Yankee Stadium and not the original one. Other than that, it was pretty perfect.

A trade was made with the Oakland A's for Khris Davis (DH = designated hitter) and Elvis Andrus (shortstop). Our team from the World Series days is officially gone. Retired, traded, injured, just gone. Davis is a power hitter, so I'm not complaining. It will just take some getting used to.

Here is the tribute the Texas Rangers posted for Elvis. Some of the best photos and it truly shows his love for the game.

I feel like once Beltre was gone, Elvis' "big brother," it hasn't been the same anyway. I am happy for him and since we play the A's multiple times each season, we can cheer him on from the other side of the dugout. Assuming we can attend games this Spring.

We also signed Delino DeShields (outfielder) to our minor league team. He was traded away a year ago and will workout with the Rangers during Spring Training. Hopefully we'll see him again.

Here is the current roster for the Texas Rangers. Spring Training is just around the corner. Yay!

************

Drew Robinson: You may remember this name. He was the young kid who played with the Rangers during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He was traded to the San Francisco Giants in 2019 as he continued to battle the ups and downs of life and life in baseball. It's a very long story and there is a documentary on ESPN E-60. It is worth reading, even as a reminder that life is worth living and that communication, hugs, and telling someone you love them can change their entire world. His goal is to play baseball again, and what a joyful day that will be. His first major league hit was in Texas and it was a home run. June 26, 2017 vs. the New York Yankees. I actually remember watching that game and thinking how cool that would be... to get called up to the majors and to have your first hit be a home run. Little did I know, or anyone, what he was really going through.

I am praying for him and his whole family. Life is definitely worth living!!

#LetsGoRangers
#TexasRangers

#ThankYouElvis

#BecauseHeLives

Super Bowl

Old School Tampa Bay...

It was cool to see the Bucs in the Super Bowl. I watched them growing up when they had Warren Sapp, Warrick Dunn, Mike Alstott, and John Lynch, who just got inducted into the Hall of Fame. The good ole days. Their QB was Brad Johnson, a back up to Warren Moon and the guy who threw a touchdown pass to himself. He's also Mark Richt's brother-in-law, random, and he ended his career with the Cowboys. Tony Dungy was their head coach, until they fired Dungy, brought Jon Gruden in and he won the Super Bowl in 2003. The same with Landry and Jimmy Johnson and the Cowboys. Sad to see, but it happens. Dungy ultimately won a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning. He's good.

My thoughts on the game...

Kansas City had a lot on their minds coming into the game, not to mention a busted up Offensive Line and a few Rookies.

It's sad what happened with Andy Reid's son and we're all praying for the family who was involved in the accident. The little 5-year old girl appears to still be in a coma. I am praying that she fully recovers.

Needless to say, life is more important than football. But the game still went on.

The Tampa Bay Bucs showed up to play and to win. They were ALL about football, especially Brady. One focus. One goal. That is what he has altered his entire life around, his sport. You can respect it, judge it, be jealous of it or just acknowledge it. The dude is a winner. I may not agree with all of his methods, but he has won more super bowl rings than most franchises, including the Dallas Cowboys.

It has been 25 years since the Cowboys have even been to the Super Bowl and Won. Anthony Hitchens, former Cowboys player shares how his time with the Cowboys has helped him in Kansas City. Basically, players have to leave Dallas to win a Super Bowl.

Play by play...

I feel like the refs made poor judgement calls on the KC defense in the first half. 100 yards of penalties to 15 yards for the Bucs. That alone left their defense dejected and a lot less aggressive in the second half. And that's when Brady ramped up the trash talk, which only made KC's defense more frustrated. Like I said, one goal for Brady, WIN.

Brady is one of the greatest to play the game. He commands the focus and respect of his teammates and he appears to care about them personally. He managed to throw two TD passes to Gronk and one to Antonio Brown, who ran the wrong route. I mean, a wild year! Brown was just happy to have a team pick him up after the way he left Pittsburg and now the dude is in the Super Bowl and catching TD's! Good times y'all. This Bucs team made it look easy.

But you have to feel badly for Patrick Mahomes running for his life during the whole game. We know the O-Line was not his original crew and it showed. He had about two seconds to throw the ball vs. Brady, who had all day. Mahomes didn't even get a chance to run the ball and his main targets were dropping the balls and letting them hit them in the helmets. Not their best outing.

Don't worry, he's still a Super Bowl MVP from the 2019-2020 season, and he's only 25 years old. There will be much more of him. And yes, Brady, at 43 years old, wants you to know you'll see much more of him too.

This list from CBS Sports ranks the all-time GOATS. They have Babe Ruth and Michael Jordan ahead of Brady... do you agree?

#superbowl
#NFL

#tombrady

#patrickmahomes

#GOAT

#babyGOAT

Random Thoughts

It's so cold...

Why, why is it going to be a high in the teens and a low close to zero in Dallas? It's not climate change, because we've had these temperatures before. It was just in the 80's and early 90's and I have blocked it from my childhood memories.

It is colder here than in NYC, which thankfully I still have some of my winter stuff from when I lived there.

I busted out my ski jacket for this weekend. We're not playing.

And as for the "ice" comments from people who don't live in Dallas. I'd just like you to know that there isn't such a thing as "driving on ice."

You skate on ice, slide on ice, fall on ice, you don't "drive on ice" - especially not in a city with a million overpasses on our highways. So, before you judge us for shutting down our city due to "ice," just know it's because there isn't another option.

We'll gladly take fluffy snow, and I hope that is what we get! But I booked my ticket to Colorado soon, just in case Texas doesn't come through for me.

Here is the Dallas, TX forecast from weather.com. I'm cold just looking at it. And I'm praying for those who do not have warm houses or are homeless. I pray that the shelters have space for them and they have warm food to eat. No one should be outside in this.

#hugsomeone
#staywarm
#texasweather
#snowsnowsnow

#frozen

~smile~

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year ~ Dallas Cowboys ~ Dallas Mavericks ~ PNC Championship ~ Shop Small

2020-12-19T23:35:00.003-06:00

Merry Christmas

I hope you and your family are able to be together and celebrate Jesus this day and every day!! Life is worth living and although it has been a tough year, I know it will be good and that new things are to come! Do not lose hope!!

Shop this sign here

Dallas Cowboys

Sunday, December 20th @ 12:00 PM CST

San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys (home team is second)

Are we playing for the Playoffs or the Draft?

Short story of the season: we lost one, won one, lost two, won one, lost four, won one, lost two, won one... do you see a pattern here?

That game against the Bengals, Andy Dalton's former team, last week was really good! The Cincinnati Bengals aren't a very good football team, but it was nice to see the Cowboys put a few plays together and drive the ball down the field. There was a nice goal line stand by the Bengals in the fourth quarter, but we still defeated them 30-7.

What is going down this week?

Everyone is picking us to win, what has become a mockery of the old rivalry between the Cowboys and the 49ers. Our time slot was once again moved to noon on Sunday instead of prime time, same as last week vs. the Bengals.

During the "good ole days," the Cowboys and 49ers would battle one another to get into the Super Bowl.

The 1981-1982 season was the year of "The Catch." The moment where Joe Montana threw a high pass to Dwight Clark in the end zone and it led them to the Super Bowl. The Dallas Cowboys still seem a little bitter about this play, but we had a lot of great years in the 80's and 90's. We can let the 49ers have "The Catch." Check out the clip.

As I was looking for this replay, I also came across 100 of the greatest NFL photos of all time, very cool!

This weeks game... it will be interesting.

Both teams have had major injuries and the back-up QB's are doing the best they can.

Here is the full list of injuries this season for both teams.

From ESPN

Zeke is supposed to play with a bum calf, but I'm alright if Tony Pollard gets a little more play time. He is doing a great job on both offense and special teams.

Dalton seems to be in a better groove and all WR's (wide receivers) played a role in the victory last week. We need this same type of participation, focus and victory mindset this week. It all starts and the mind, so seeing a little mental toughness last week was a good sign!

We also get Trevon Diggs back since he broke his foot on November 8th. The rest of our secondary should be healthy as well, which is good!!

Quandary... if we continue to win, we won't have as good of a draft pick.

The team with the worst record gets the first pick and so on. However, you can't lose on purpose, that's just wrong and not the mindset you'd ever want to teach an athlete or anyone.

So, we watch, we cheer, we celebrate and we wait to see what happens after the season is over.

Hopefully Dak gets a contract. Hopefully they figure out the coaching staff issues. And hopefully someone figures out what is going on with Zeke.

We play the 4-8 Eagles the Sunday after Christmas, which will be even more interesting since they just beat the Saints and play the Cardinals this week.

Trivia Question: What player played for the 49ers, Cowboys and the Eagles?

Here's to all of our rivalries that are now at the bottom of the pack! May you enjoy your Christmas week and most likely College Football more than the Pros.

**The College Football Playoffs just got moved to Cowboys stadium from the Rose Bowl in California. We are so glad to have sports back in Texas! I can't wait for baseball season.

Cowboys remaining games for the season...

From ESPN

#CowboysNation
#DallasCowboys

#CFP

#NFL

Dallas MavericksT

Luka, Luka, Luka... that's all we've heard about in the pre-season. Everyone is already picking him to be the MVP this year, which has to be so much fun for him to hear after only playing two years in the NBA.

We were all sad to see Seth Curry leave Dallas, but the addition of Josh Richardson is looking promising! He and Doncic look like they've played together for years, which I can only imagine will get better as the season goes on.

On a sad note, J.J. Barea was released by the Mavs. He played 11 seasons in Dallas and is one of the most beloved players. He will be missed and I hope he finds a new team that needs his point guard skills and his heart for the game.

Here's the schedule for the first few regular season games and a link to the full schedule. We play the Lakers on Christmas Day and I fully expect for us to get the W! LeBron who?

From ESPN

#MFFL

#LukaDoncic

#Luka

#NBA

PGA

You probably missed this with everything going on right now, but the Father and Son/Mother and daughter PNC Championship is this weekend.

It is so fun to watch them playing as a family. They all seem more relaxed and are enjoying themselves. I think I can say that has been my favorite thing from golf this year, how they've played more rounds for "fun" and shown us a side we didn't get to see in regular tournaments.

Round one was on Saturday, and Round 2 will be played on Sunday, December 20th. Here are tee times for Sunday.

Highlights from Tiger and his son Charlie on day one. His son got his first eagle on live TV! I hope to have my first eagle one day!

Highlights from all teams on day one.

Team Kuchar is in the lead at -14.

#PGA

#PNCChampionship

#Tiger

#familygolf

#golflife

Shop Small

I'm sure you've noticed, but it has been an exceptionally hard year for small businesses. While Amazon, Walmart, Target, Apple, Google and others grew by the BILLIONS, small businesses have collectively lost over $200 billion and 21% of all small businesses have closed down completely.

I know you have already been doing your part by shopping local however you can. Local restaurants, farmers markets, boutiques, family farms, etc. Keep getting creative and helping out those small businesses and even smaller franchises. We all need to spread the love and I can promise you that Bezos doesn't need another dime, as he is now worth $186.7 billion dollars.

Here are a few places that are local if you're in Dallas and a few that are online too. You may not get gifts in time for Christmas Day, but that's okay, patience is a virtue.

Sunny Paige Boutique - super cute ladies clothing

Deb's Oils - essential oils and carrier oils - I also buy my perfume from here, which is oil based and not alcohol based

Lindsay Letters Co - this mom and family have been through a lot - their daughter had a traumatic accident over a year ago and her art has been a way to stay inspired

Rhoback - great men's golf shirts and 1/4 zips

The Salsa Texan - my friends just told me about this lady who is at the farmers market at Willow Bend Mall every Saturday - coconut flour tortillas and tamales

Scheels - new sporting goods store in TX, which as been around in CO for a while and it's employee owned - pretty cool

Academy - yes, it's a major chain, but not everyone knows about it and they have cute private label workout clothes

Yeti - you can find these products at most retail stores, but they also sell them online and at Scheels, Academy and the PGA Superstore, if you'd like to get more creative

Black Riffle Coffee - veteran owned coffee company in TX, also sold at Scheels in TX

Just Nutritive - I buy all of my shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion, hair volumizer and more from this place - it lasts for a very long time and is full of vitamins

Arbonne - I have been using Arbonne face cleanser, rejuvenating cream and cc makeup for over 15 years - it's my favorite - if you have questions about it, please let me know

Norwex - this company sells cloths that get rid of bacteria by just adding water to the cloth - I use their kitchen cloths as my hand towels, their veggie wash and scrubber, sponges, dish soap, laundry detergent and dryer balls, and almost everything on the site - here's a youtube video showing how the cloth works

Life is more than convenience. It's about people. Seeing people, face to face, helping them, serving them, hugging them, lending a hand and supporting them in any way possible. I hope we can get back to this soon because not having it or not having it fully has not been good for any of us.

But, we have hope and hope does not disappoint!

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

Romans 5:1-5

#hugsomeone

#familyiseverything

#MerryChristmas

#WeHaveHope

Trivia Answer: Terrell Owens (1996-2003 SF, 2004-2005 Eagles, 2006-2008 Cowboys)

~smile~

Dallas Cowboys, on a Tuesday... everything is better on a Tuesday ~ The Rangers have a new GM ~ Making food is fun

2020-12-07T21:23:00.003-06:00

Dallas Cowboys

Tuesday, December 8th @ 7:05 PM CST

Dallas Cowboys vs. Baltimore Ravens (home team is second)

Soooo, I was a little wrong.

The Cowboys beat the Vikings and lost to the Washington Football Team. I mean, who thought that Zeke would finally have a great game, that Tony Pollard would fumble, not Zeke, and that Dalton would come back from a concussion and covid-19 like a gunslinger.

The Vikings game was fun to watch, but then the rollercoaster began again with a depressing game on Thanksgiving Day and the loss to the Washington Football Team. Don't worry, my uncle called us and had to get his bragging rights in... not that either of us are proud of our teams, really.

Cowboys Golf Club ~ from a golf tournament I got to play in a few weeks ago

I am fine with 2020. Most people loath this year, but I believe many great things have come from 2020. We are learning a lot about ourselves and where we stand on issues to help us move forward.

What I'm not cool with is 20 years of mediocrity from the wealthiest football team in the NFL, $5.7 billion, to be exact.

We look to sports for many things: action, competition, teamwork, impossible outcomes, aka: the possibility of seeing something that has never happened before!! We all want to be a part of something great and sports invites us into those moments, even as fans.

What we don't look to sports for are: stress, frustration, glass half empty, or the desire to yell at a tv screen where nobody can hear you. I've gotten much better over the years and thank goodness I don't gamble. I have very little riding on these games, just the expectation to see extremely highly paid athletes perform better than a high or college school football team and bragging rights.

One of my favorite quotes this year is from Mike Leach, head coach of Mississippi State. He said, "We played LSU because New England, Green Bay and the Chiefs had somebody else scheduled, so we played these guys." They certainly would have a chance against the Cowboys.

Moving on...

DALLAS vs. BALTIOMRE

Does anyone miss Dez Bryant?

Well, get your popcorn ready!!! He's coming to town!!

(actually, we're going to his town, but that's not how the song goes)

He was picked up by the Baltimore Ravens in October, this year. He hasn't made a huge impact on the games he's played in so far, four receptions for 28 yards in three games played, but that doesn't mean they won't use him differently against the Cowboys.

He played seven seasons with the Cowboys and is only 32 years old. Crazy because I feel like I've heard about him my whole life! To put into context, the oldest WR (wide receiver) in the league is Larry Fitzgerald, 37 years old. Pretty remarkable because people still pick up Larry in their fantasy leagues. Not sure anyone has Dez this year, but knowing this guy is all heart, they should put him in this Tuesday!

Lamar Jackson doesn't "need" his passing game, we know he can run all over us, but they will use whatever they can to get the lead early and keep it. The Ravens are 6-5 (wins-losses) and are ranked 3rd in the AFC North. They NEED this game to stay alive in the playoff picture.

I believe the Cowboys are out of the playoff picture, since the New York Giants beat Seattle this past Sunday. (I mean, what???? Since when does Seattle lose to the Giants???) Not like we wanted to make the playoffs anyway, we're looking at 2021 draft picks!

What is wrong with the Cowboys...

Our Defense is ranked 17th in the NFL. This should not make anyone feel good about going up against Lamar Jackson, Dez or anyone else on the Ravens team. Their Defense is better against the pass than the run, so that frees up some space for Zeke and Pollard to do damage, if they can HOLD ONTO THE BALL!

But guys, we need our defense to put pressure on Jackson and instead of giving up a couple of picks a game, we need to be the ones doing the intercepting!!

Dalton has to stay sharp. They will rush him and I'm not sure our O-line can handle it with Offensive Lineman Zach Martin and Cameron Erving out. Martin is out for a few weeks with an injured calf and Erving had a knee sprain. Not good.

We have quite a few defensive players that are out this week as well.

As it is with every week, we'll just have to see how it plays out.

I hope to see an exciting game and we can always hope for a victory. Why not?

And for those who miss Dak, I believe he's healing nicely. He showed up at practice the other day and it seems he was able to walk without his crutches. He's also still ranked 27th in passing yards in the NFL. We're 12 weeks in and he only played four and a half games this season. Pretty cool. Can't wait until next year!

from ESPN

#CowboysNation
#Dallas Cowboys

Texas Rangers

The Rangers have a new GM. Yes, Jon Daniels has moved into President of Baseball Operations, Nolan Ryan's old role. I assume this was to be expected.

The new GM, Chris Young, started his baseball career as a pitcher with the Rangers in 2004 and grew up in Dallas, TX. He went to Highland Park High School, just like Clayton Kershaw, only nine years apart. I guess you could say Young "paved the way" for Kershaw, along with many others.

He has been working as the SVP for MLB and decided to return home to Dallas and work for his home team.

Why this is a good thing? Well, since Nolan left, we haven't had a baseball player running things. No offense to JD, it's just nice to have a guy who played the game helping manage the game. Another reason many of us wish Jerry Jones would hire a real GM for the Cowboys. No one should be the President/Owner and GM.

All that is to say, I hope Chris has big plans for our team in 2021. We've been told it will be another year of "re-building," no fan wants to hear that. Go big or go home! Our guys aren't getting any younger and we need to do something with the pitching we got last year.

I'm ready to get back to the post-season and see a few fly-overs in our new stadium!

"Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." ~ Babe Ruth

#TexasRangers
#ChrisYoung
#MLB

#GoBigorGoHome

Making Food is Fun

Many of us have spent more time at home in the past few months than ever before. I must say, it is nice to make my own food and eat healthier, but I know that has not been the case for everyone.

If in any way you or your family have been impacted financially or even lost your job, please know my hope is that you will get an even better job and that all of your needs will be met above and beyond what you have asked for. You are not alone.

As for budget friendly food ideas, I wanted to share a few. At different times throughout this season, we've all had to make choices and become more frugal with out spending, so it only seemed right to share a few of the creations I've come up with.

Pasta Sauce:

Yes, I know tomatoes have lectins in them and Dr. Grundy is anti-lectin. I avoid them most of the time, but every now and then, I eat a small amount of brown-rice pasta and want to make my own pasta sauce. Is that a crime?? ha! (No, we can't talk about how salsa is also made from tomatoes - life without salsa isn't living).

1 can of tomato sauce (57 cents at Trader Joes)
olive oil

basil leaves

oregano

black pepper

pink salt

crushed red pepper

minced garlic

Throw this all into a blender, vitamix, bullet, etc. and add ingredients to your liking. I'm not a fan of measuring because that's boring. I suggest you start with a small amount of each ingredient and then add as you go. If you have fresh plants, basil and oregano, that's the best, but dried will work too.

This may not be cheaper than a jar, but it's about the same price and is fresh and fun!

I already shared my oatmeal concoction in another post, see here. Now this one is very budget friendly!

I also recommend making hard boiled eggs. If you need protein, it's very easy to eat an egg white and be done with it.

Veggie Mix:

Do you like veggies? If not, this is a great way to get them into your diet.

Buy all of the veggies you know you need to eat.

Butternut squash

Asparagus

Beets

onions

celery

mushrooms

etc.

Dice them really small and put them in a bowl for storage.

Pour a small amount into a pan with avocado oil and sauté them. I add fresh spinach and minced garlic for good measure. I also add seasoning and fresh rosemary, if you have it on hand.

Once you've cooked it down, you can eat it as is or if you have meat or a protein available. A lot of times I'll make chicken, shred it and have it to use in various dishes.

If you're a sauce girl, like me, but you don't want all of the sugar that comes with them, just add mustard to this dish. Warning: if you don't like mustard, don't add mustard. And if you like cheese, well be my guest! Every dish is better with cheese, I just try not to have it all of the time. I think goat cheese would go nicely with this dish.

Hunt and Gather Bowl:

This is my re-creation of the bowl I get at HG Supply in Dallas.

burger patty

sweet potato hash

spinach

minced garlic

avocado

egg

jalapenos

What? That's some crazy ingredients, but it's so easy to make if you prep it and have it a few days in a row. I'm not a huge fan of leftovers, but this one works.

Buy a few sweet potatoes and shred them in a food processor. Put them in a container and use a fresh handful each day.

I also make four burger patties from one pound of meat and save them in a container for each day.

Prep: Sauté the sweet potatoes in olive oil, avocado oil or butter, once they've cooked a bit, add the garlic and the spinach. In a separate pan, cook and egg to your liking. And at the same time cook the burger. I use my grill, but you can use a pan to cook a burger too. The sweet potatoes take the longest to cook, so time everything else to that and you're good to go.

Display... it's all about the aesthetics... you want to put the sweet potato hash on the bottom of the plate, then the burger, then the egg and slices of avocado. Once again, you can add mustard, unless you don't like mustard. Clearly I have no other suggestions for people who do not like mustard. Ha!

Remember, even if you don't have a lot of money, you can have fun with food and make a few meals out of a few ingredients!

Also, presentation is everything!! I buy butter lettuce at Costco for $4 and use them as taco shells for homemade tuna salad or ground turkey taco meat. It's a fun way to look like you're eating tacos, but it's just cute little lettuce shells.

Enjoy!

#hugsomeone

#cookingshow

#nevermeasure

#justgowithit

Shop www.flowersonatuesday.com ~ since everything is better on a Tuesday

~smile~

Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day ~ Thankful for Sports ~ Thankful for Life

2020-11-21T20:54:00.011-06:00

Dallas Cowboys

Sunday, November 22 @ 3:25 PM CST

Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota Vikings (home team is second)

Thanksgiving Day, November 26 @ 3:30 PM CST

Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys (home team is second)

Our record is 2-7. That's two wins, seven losses.

Every other conference in the NFL has a team in the lead with at least 6 wins. The Eagles are leading the NFC East with a 3-5 record, while the Cowboys are tied with Washington in 3rd and 4th place. This should make the Thanksgiving day game interesting. Two 2-7 teams, prime time at 3:30 PM on Turkey Day!!

Not quite the games we've watched in the past with this rivalry, but this will be the first year the Cowboys are playing The Washington Football Team, with no name. That's kind of cool. And of course there will be a Salvation Army nod with Zeke.

That is if Zeke can run the ball. He hasn't had a game over 100 yards this season and we're playing Dalvin Cook this week vs. the Minnesota Vikings. Cook is leading the league in rushing with 954 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. The highest paid running back in the league, Zeke, has rushed for 572 yards, averaging 3.8 per carry. Note to self, the highest paid doesn't always mean the best.

Adding to the irony this Sunday, Kirk Cousins is the QB for the Vikings, with a 4-5 record, which will probably become 5-5 Sunday. He used to be the Washington Football Team's QB. I bet they wish they still had him now!

Our current QB situation still isn't very good. Dalton not only had a concussion, which is not cool, that hit was disgusting and the dude only got fined $12k, but Dalton also got the virus.

Good news, he was activated this week and practiced with the team. I assume he will start, but we'll see Sunday. Ben DiNucci did a decent job, especially since he wasn't getting much help from Zeke. If it were up to me, I'd leave Tony Pollard in the game at running back. He's averaging 4.4 yards per carry and hasn't fumbled the ball this season. Three out of Zeke's four fumbles were touchdowns for the opposing team. Just saying!

Bottom line, if you're planning to watch the games this Sunday and on Thanksgiving Day, set your expectations low and be super excited if Dalton and the Boys can put something together!! Thursday may be our best bet, especially with our Defense and the injuries we've suffered.

via @ESPN

Here's the full schedule.

#GoCowboys
#DallasCowboys

#pray4dak

Thankful for Sports

I am thankful for golf. They started with a few friendly rivalries and amature events to raise money for, hopefully people actually affected by the virus or small businesses. And for the most part, they kept politics out of it.

Then they played most tournaments, sadly without fans, but we were able to enjoy it from our homes, which is more common in golf anyway.

I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Dustin Johnson win The Masters. It's always emotional and a huge weight off of the winners shoulders. DJ could barely talk afterwards, which clearly made me tear up a few times. "Is someone cutting onions in here?" And it was really cool to see Tiger put the new jacket on DJ. It keeps getting better every year!

All in All, thank you, golf, for not shutting down and giving us fans something to cheer for. Here's to next years Masters and we can't wait for the Ryder Cup too!

Disney

I am thankful for the Dallas Stars and their run in the Stanley Cup Finals. Y'all know I'm not the biggest hockey fan, but they too kept it mostly about hockey and gave us something to cheer for! I hope next year we can take it back to the Finals and have more than one spectacular game!

Disney

I am thankful for the Texas Rangers and the new stadium they built for the LA Dodgers and their fan base. I don't like sarcasm, because it's typically rude and meaningless, but in this case, it is factual. No Rangers fans attended the regular season games, but the stadium was opened up for the Playoffs and the World Series, in which the Dodgers won. I guess I could have purchased tickets to those series, but after our season, which left us in second to last place in the ENTIRE league, it was just too painful. But yay for Kershaw and his family! Talk about overcoming the odds in the Post-season. This dude had the worst Post-season record coming into the WS and got it done this year. Normally they'd put an asterisks on it because of the shortened season, but if the Astros get to keep their titles and not have an asterisks, then I guess anything goes? Watch this clip.

Disney

I am thankful that the Dallas Mavs have Luka Doncic. I am not thankful that the Dallas Mavs just traded away Seth Curry. In the NBA draft the other night, the Mavs traded away Seth Curry to the Philadelphia 76ers. They got the 36th pick in the draft and acquire Josh Richardson from the 76ers while using the 36th pick to draft Tyler Bey from the University of Colorado. He is supposedly a better defender, which means the Mavs had to sacrifice a little bit of offense to get more defensive players. As long as Luka's ankle can stay healthy, we should be good.

We also drafted Josh Green from Arizona and Tyrell Terry from Stanford. It's too bad we didn't get to see these guys play in March Madness this year. I'm already looking forward to March 2021!

Disney - Space Jam

I am thankful that the Dallas Cowboys had a bye week last week, so I didn't have to watch and pretend like I was being entertained this year. So sad. Just so sad.

Thankful for Life
I am first and foremost, every day of my life, thankful for God, the Father, Jesus, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

I am who I am because I know I am forgiven and free. That is something no government, superior, parent or spouse can give me.

This verse is very familiar in sports and often overlooked because of it, but verse 17 is just as powerful and both are true.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world though him."

John 3:16-17

I hope that each one of you are able to spend this year with people you love. And I hope that even though things change constantly and it seems overwhelming, you are confident that you are loved and your life has great purpose and meaning!

This is cheesy, but one thing I've done for many years, as a way to remain thankful, is I created a folder in all of my email accounts that is called, "answered."

This "answered" folder contains any email that has ever been sent to me that is an answered prayer. Even if the person didn't know I was praying for them.

I hope that you too are able to see answered prayers throughout every day and give thanks for them!

This is one of my other favorite verses because it is not a suggestion or an "if you feel like it today" kind of statement. It's a command, because it is good and it is helpful for the heart to remain in a posture of thankfulness and remembrance so we can extend grace and love to everyone around us. Even when it may see impossible or that your beliefs couldn't be more different. Think of everyone that Jesus died for. None of whom are worthy, myself included.

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I am thankful for my family and for the time they have spent with me this year more than any other. And for the amazing friends I have that have met me at the park, gone for walks and even those who has ventured into my home.

Life is short, no matter how you calculate it. I pray you all enjoy every minute of it and live as freely as possible!!

We have hope, and hope does NOT disappoint!

Romans 5:5

#hugsomeone

#bethankful

#happythanksgiving

#answeredprayers

#family

#freedom

#hope

(I went heavy on the animation today, ha! Just enjoy it and pretend you're 8 years old again)

~smile~

Dallas Cowboys without Dak and with Dalton~ Monday Night Football ~ My Fitness Pal

2020-10-17T22:58:00.003-05:00

NFL

MNF, October 19 @ 7:15 PM CST

Arizona Cardinals vs. Dallas Cowboys (home team is second)

Y'all. Dak is injured and out for the season (as I'm sure you already know).

You can follow him on Twitter for the latest updates @dak

He was injured during the NY Giants game last week, on a routine play. Dak decided to run for the first down and instead of sliding, like most QB's do, he takes the defender, Logan Ryan, head on. This is what happened. If you don't want to watch it, I don't blame you, basically his ankle and foot were not facing the normal direction after the play. It is fractured and dislocated.

He had surgery immediately and is already on the road to recovery. Here is his motivational message to fans.

This did not come without a wave of emotion as Dak was being carted off the field and to add irony to the matter, Tony Romo was calling the game and Jason Garret was the Offensive Coordinator for the Giants. In this full clip, you can hear Romo's sincere concern and you see Garrett on the field side by side with the Cowboys new head coach, Mike McCarthy. No matter what you ever thought about Romo or Garrett, I think it was pretty cool that they were there to support and care for Dak.

As if this situation wasn't emotional enough, Dak is in a contract year. It's always a risk going into a season with a franchise tag, but Stephen and Jerry Jones are standing behind their word that Dak will be a Cowboy after this season and that he will "get paid."

What now? Who is our new QB?

As they said on Broadway, when we could go to Broadway, the show must go on.

Enter stage left, Andy Dalton. The kid from Katy, Tx, who played college ball at TCU and is now playing for the Dallas Cowboys.

Dalton came into the game vs. the Giants on Sunday after Dak's injury in the third quarter. He completed 9/11 passes for 111 yards. Zeke picked up on the run game to give Dalton time to adjust. Short routes were working between Dalton and Ceedee Lamb, but we needed some big time plays if we were going to win the game. Enter stage right, Michael Gallup. I'm pretty sure I did a story on him last year, just kidding, I'm not a news reporter, I've just always wanted to say that. But someone should do a story on Gallup!

He had two catches late in the fourth quarter... one for 19 yards and one for 38 yards. Y'all... wow! Those were some catches!! The 38 yard catch was with his back to the ball, dragging his feet, falling forward while catching the ball and securing it. What? Man, it was pretty to watch and it set up the game winning field goal for the Cowboys. Now we have a 2-3 record (wins - losses).

Why were we able to win with Dak out?

To some degree it's the element of surprise. The Giants didn't prep all week to play Dalton, they prepared to play Dak. So, it worked to our advantage a bit and confused their defense.

This week, we play the Arizona Cardinals and they will be more than prepared for Dalton. He is not just a back-up QB. He played for nine years with the Cincinnati Bengals and had 133 starts. This was his first year as a back-up and now he's the starter. Interesting how it all works out.

I suspect that Zeke will play a large role this week and get the run game going early. And Dalton has a natural connection with Gallup, so if he can get Cooper and Lamb in the rotation, we might have a chance to get the W, if our D can hold up.

Best news ever... we are getting one of our best defensive players back in Leighton Vander Esch. Talk about timing! Our defense has struggled badly and we need all the help we can get.

The Cardinals & Monday Night Football

They're playing their third road game in a row, but they're a really good team with a 3-2 record and it's Monday Night Football. The stage every QB and team wants to play on!

They will be tough on our defense because Kyler Murray is their QB and their top receiver is DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins has the most receiving yards in the league and is averaging 11.7 yards per catch. It will be interesting to see what Mike Nolan, Dallas Defensive Coordinator, and his staff come up with. I hope our secondary eats their Wheaties before the game!

When the Cowboys score, you'll see them throwing up the #4, for Dak. #4 #respect

Dalton will hold his own and we'll all support him and what we believe this team can do! I've always respected Dalton for what he's done in his personal life and how he stands up for those who are in need. He loves the Lord and I believe will be a great leader for this team while Dak is healing and getting ready for next year.

GO COWBOYS!!

via @ESPN

Here's the full schedule.

#GoCowboys
#DallasCowboys

#pray4dak

Random Info
I gave y'all my random oatmeal recipe last time, but didn't go into details about the app I use to set myself up for success when it comes to food in general.

I use My Fitness Pal.

This is not something I do to stress myself out or lose a lot of weight or anything like that. I started using it because I like numbers and it is helpful to see exactly what I'm eating. For free, it tracks calories, fat, carbs, vitamins and additional macros by meal and by day.

While talking to one of my closest friends a few weeks ago about this app, she mentioned that it's similar to her as a financial budget. When she said that it clicked, yes! We both agreed that it is most helpful to plan our meals and snacks in the app the night before the next day, if we can. It is freeing to see what I get to eat and stay within my "budget."

This may not make sense completely, until you try it. If you don't need this, please ignore this whole section. I am one of those people who loves my Tex-Mex chips and salsa and would eat it all day if I could. I need to "get excited" about my healthy foods in the same way and eat as clean as possible, so when I decide to eat out and enjoy that wonderful Tex-Mex meal, it's already accounted for and I have no regrets!

Happy eating!!

#eatclean

#foodisfuel

#myfitnesspal

#hugsomeone

~smile~

Dallas Cowboys ~ Dallas Stars ~ Texas Rangers ~ Golf ~ Oatmeal Recipe

2020-09-24T18:00:00.001-05:00

NFL

Sunday, September 27 @ 3:25 PM CST

Dallas Cowboys vs. Seattle Seahawks (home team is second)

39-40... that's some crazy stuff y'all. Atlanta really is hot-lanta because they are probably in some hot water after this loss and the lingering loss in the Super Bowl vs. the Patriots. They gave up a 25 point lead in that game (28-3) and a 20 point lead against the Cowboys. It's clearly not the Super Bowl, but it is week two and both teams were 0-1 coming into this game... now Atlanta is 0-2 and the Cowboys are somehow 1-1.

The last few minutes of the game went the way of the Cowboys and Dak Prescott threw for over 400 yards and rushed for 3 TD's - first QB to do this, EVER. I think we know who the game ball went to! Mr. Dak Prescott, NFC Player of the Week!

Cowboys vs. Seahawks

You've probably heard of a guy named Russel Wilson?

ESPN analysts think he's going to the the league MVP this year.

from tenor

Did you see what Dak, Zeke, CeeDee, Amari and our D were able to do against Atlanta, eventually. If we can start faster against Seattle, we might have a chance. We can't get behind on them like we did Atlanta. Comebacks from 20 down aren't possible, especially not in Seattle! They won't have their normal crowd noise, but I can guarantee you they'll be pumping it in!

Where else do we need to improve to get the W and go 2-1... 4th down. I'm all about stats, but we're 0-2 going for it on fourth down - toss the analytics on this one and go with your gut. Or if you've been going with your gut, read the stat sheet. I'm tired of listening to the commentators say things like, "well we know the analytics report says to go for it here, but I'm not sure John." These coaches are paid millions of dollars, I hope they figure it out.

Cowboys Injury report:

Trevon Diggs - we need this guy - he didn't practice Wednesday because of a shoulder injury, but we need him in our secondary (he plays Cornerback on our defense) - this is also the guy we got with the 51st pick in the NFL draft this year!! He played for Alabama

Awuzie - another one of our Cornerbacks will miss a few weeks with a hamstring injury... this is my least favorite injury because it drags on - hopefully he will heal quickly

Seattle Injury report:

Half of their defense - I'm sure most of them will be fine by Sunday, so nothing too major here

Continued respect for Dak Prescott and speaking out about his grief after he lost his brother earlier this year to suicide. Aaron Rogers and Falcons Hayden Hurst commented on their support for Dak and Hayden had the awareness to do this after their tough loss on Sunday.

via @ESPN

Here's the full schedule.

#GoCowboys
#DallasCowboys

MLB
We are in second to last place in the MLB, with a 19-37 record.

Needless to say, we won't be playing Postseason baseball this Fall and maybe not next year, unless we pick up a few new guys in the off-season.

I will say, it was good to watch a little baseball, but it was hard not being there. This is the first time in years that my family and I went an entire baseball season without attending a game. And I'm sure it was a disappointment for the Rangers to build their new stadium and not have fans soaking up its greatness. They released a virtual fan appreciation event you can register for here.

Here's to next year!

via @ESPN

#LetsGoRangers
#TexasRangers

NHL

We are heading into GAME 4 of the STANLEY CUP FINALS!

The Stars are down 2-1. Tampa Bay won Games two and three, which means we need to stop their momentum on Friday, Sept 25th during game 4.

Here's a preview for Game 4.

Despite our goalie, Khudobin, getting pulled in Game 3, he vowed to be ready for Game 4. I just hope we see the same guy from Game 1... "We're not going home."

via @ESPN

#gostars

#stanleycup

#nhl

GOLF

Golf has gotten interesting... Bryson DeChambeau won the U.S. Open this past weekend with his crazy strength and controversial club design. And Matt Wolff, avg drive 333 yards, came in second. I'll just say, watching all of these guys hit the ball 300+ yards is just crazy. On my best day, with dry ground and a LOT of roll I'm pushing 220+.

Another fun fact from the weekend was the list of guys who didn't make the cut at Winged Foot (the name of the course in NY where the U.S. Open was played)...

Tiger Woods

Phil Mickelson

Jordan Spieth

Gary Woodland

Justin Rose

I am sure they'll all be ready for The Masters November 12-15.

#golf

#PGA

Random Info
Oatmeal... a faithful food.

I went paleo and even auto-immune paleo quite a few years ago after blood-work came back saying that would be a good idea for my body/gut to heal. So clearly my body wasn't a fan of On the Border chips and salsa for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Kidding, kind of.

Most eating plans like this exclude grains, which makes sense because many of them are full of additives and gmo ingredients.

After a recent discussion with my natural doctor, she encouraged me to eat pure oats again and see how it makes me feel. I used to always say it made my stomach less bloated and feel so much better and it still does!!

I know not everyone will believe this, but it's true for me. My stomach will be flat after eating oatmeal because it's full of nutrients and even has 5 grams of protein in 1/3 cup.

This is not all about a flat stomach, it's about eating foods that our gut can process and even benefit from. I know we're all different, so if this does not work for you, please do what works for you and ignore this part! :)

It was ironic when these two articles popped up for me this past week as a few of the ingredients are what I include in my morning oatmeal routine.

Eat this not that - article

Prevention - article

Here's my recipe.

1/3 cup One degree rolled oats (to 1 cup water on the stove)

1/2 banana (fresh or frozen - then sliced)

cinnamon

1 tbsp almond butter (also Costco)

1 tsp B.Powered honey

If you put it into My Fitness Pal... here are the stats.

341 calories

11 grams of fat

0.8 saturated fat

52 carbs (if you carb cycle, do this on your higher carb days/workout days - it's worth it)

18 grams of sugar (banana and honey)

10 grams of protein

376 mg potassium

Happy eating!!

p.s. This is very cost effective too! It has helped out a lot over the past few months, especially if you break bananas in half and freeze them!

#oatemal

#carbcycle

#eatclean

#feelgood

#myfitnesspal

#hugsomeone

~smile~

Week 1: Dallas Cowboys vs. LA Rams ~ Texas Rangers ~ Dallas Stars ~ Pamper Yourself

2020-09-11T22:57:00.004-05:00

NFL

Sunday, September 13 @ 7:20 PM CST

Dallas Cowboys vs. LA Rams (home team is second)

Technically, the NFL started on Thursday night, however, I'm with @scootermagruder on this one... he said in a Tweet that "Football isn't back until the Cowboys play." I agree, my friend, I agree.

The Houston Texans and the Kansas City Chiefs (reigning Super Bowl Champions) played Thursday night and the Champs won. They looked the same as last season and maybe even better. Not good for the rest of the AFC (American Football Conference), but totally fine for the Cowboys, who are in the NFC (National Football Conference). All that means is they don't play each other as often.

UNTIL THE SUPER BOWL.

I mean, with 2020 going the way it has, why not believe, as always, that the Cowboys will make it to the Super Bowl? Unless you're Stephen A. Smith, you can get on board with this!

What's new this season?

1) We have a new head coach, Mike McCarthy. He was the coach of the Green Bay Packers a couple of years ago. He "took a year off" and is now our head coach. I think this is good and it will at least give us all a new look at a playbook we haven't seen before.

2) Ceedee Lamb. The first Wide Receiver (WR) since Dez Bryant to wear #88. The only Cowboys players to wear this number are Drew Pearson, Michael Irvin, Dez Bryant and now Ceedee Lamb. He was the 17th pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He played his college career at the University of Oklahoma. The best part about his addition to our team is that he will open up the passing game for Dak in a way that we haven't had since Dez. This also frees up Zeke and gives our coaching staff more options, like The Option.

Dak Prescott

You may or may not have seen his comments surrounding the recovery process since the death of his brother. I am sure that if you or anyone you know has mourned the loss of a loved one, no matter how it happens, it can take a toll. I am glad he shared what he has been going through and I pray that he has been able to go through grief share or something that allows him to process the pain and be heard. This article about Dak has the links and numbers to suicide hotlines and help centers. I may not know you if you're reading this, but I can tell you this, YOU ARE WORTH IT! God loves you and made you with great purpose!

via @ESPN

Here's the full schedule.

#GoCowboys
#DallasCowboys
MLB
Y'all, I would have written sooner, but this season is not looking good. New stadium, no fans and a 15-28 record (W-L). Not good. I repeat, not good.

I would say go to a game, but you can't.

I would say watch online, but very few people watch regular season baseball on TV.

Soooooo keep your chin up and eventually we'll be able to watch baseball in person one day soon.

There have been a few highlights...

Eli White (rookie) got his first major league hit.

We won one game against the Astros and two against the Angels. Yay!

On a sad note, we've been swept by a few teams too...

Oakland A's

San Diego Padres

Seattle Mariners (both series)

We also traded LHP (left handed pitcher) Mike Minor to the Oakland A's. Boo, I liked that guy, but I guess JD and the front office aren't worried about winning this year, so they're just moving dollars around.

I guess we should start looking forward to the 2021 season!

via @ESPN

#LetsGoRangers
#TexasRangers

NHL

Yes, I'm feeling fine and yes I'm adding a nod here to the Dallas Stars!! I am not a consistent hockey fan, but when your local team is in the playoffs, you support them!

Who is this rookie kid they picked up during a pandemic, Denis Gurianov?? Bold move and smart move! He had a four goal game in game 6 of the first round of playoffs and has had 8 total for the post-season.

Basically everyone on the team is fun to watch because they play very well together and hustle! We're up 2-1 in the Conference Finals vs. the Las Vegas Golden Knights (that's a mouth full).

Here's the full schedule. GO STARS!!!!

via @ESPN

#stars

#stanleycup

#nhl

NBA
Did anyone else feel like the mafia when they watched the last few Mavs games?

You hurt Luka, I hurt you. (kidding/kind of) It was a bit ridiculous, but glad no one was seriously injured.

So yeah, that was short lived. It was a bummer to see Luka and Porzingis both get injured. I know Luka tried to play through it, but for the sake of his long term career, I just want his ankle to fully heal and be ready to go next season!

#DallasMavs

#MFFL

GOLF
Dustin Johnson (DJ) has raked in the dough this season. Three PGA tour wins and over $5M. Not too bad for a shortened season.

The only sad part about golf is the Ryder Cup was moved to 2021. Other than that, it's been nice to watch it on TV and see these guys play.

The U.S. Open is coming up on Sept 17-20 and The Masters will still be played at Augusta on November 12-15.

#golf

#PGA

Random Info
Y'all... I'm not one to be pampered, so when I do something for myself, it's one of these crazy things. Also, I've had to overcome a few random injuries that led to this journey. Now I find some of these fun to do every few months or so.

The Float Spot in Frisco, TX. This may be my favorite thing ever. I was terrified the first time I went and it did not go well. Had I not slept like a baby that night, I don't think I would have gone back. However, I got over my fear of (nothing, these pods are very large and it was all in my head), and I went two more times. By the third time I actually fell asleep in this thing! That NEVER happens. It's worth the money, let me tell you! The best part may be the no phone, no noise, no nothing. Isolation sounds terrifying and it was. My mind races all of the time and this was a huge hurdle, but it is one of the best things I've ever done. I recommend everyone tries this two times; the first to get over your fear and the second to soak up the peace and quiet.

Restore Hyper Wellness in Plano, TX has cryo, hyperbaric (second pic) and inferred saunas. They also do IV drips and a few other things. I feel like they are very reasonably priced, it's very clean and everyone that works there is friendly.

Cryo feels great when you need to quickly reduce inflammation or you want to burn over 500 calories in 3 minutes. The first two minutes aren't a big deal, but that last minute - tell yourself you're on a beach and you'll be fine.

Hyperbaric is a great way to get 100% pure oxygen and relax in an semi-pressurized chamber. I'm not one for small spaces, but once you're in there, there's quite a bit or room. Once again, it's mostly mental, like the float pod thing. After this I am very relaxed and usually sleepy. The opposite of how I feel after cryo.

Joovv Red Light Therapy. Now this thing is pretty cool. I actually bought a first generation panel through a friend of a friend right before the lock-down. It was a great price, because the new ones are quite expensive. If you use it every day, I think it would be worth it. Click on the link to view all of the benefits. I try to use it at least 15 minutes a day. It has helped with minor aches and pains. I feel like it increases circulation and helps with detoxing from staring at a computer all day.

This is my last and most cost effective option to relax, restore muscles or reduce inflammation. These Magnesium flakes are amazing. I soak in them a couple of times a week in warm water. I add apple cider vinegar, essential oils and sometimes coconut oil. Yes, I dump it all in the water, it works and is worth it! You'll sleep better too!

**Random, I'm not paid by these people... I just felt like being a nerd and sharing these fun things with y'all!

#joovv

#thefloatspot

#restorehyperwellness

#relax

#healing

#hugsomeone

~smile~

MLB starts on 7/23 ~ NBA starts 7/30 ~ NFL starts on 9/10 ~ Golf keeps rolling ~ Hug Someone

2020-07-20T22:03:00.001-05:00

It's been a long time friends, but I think Sports are back... kind of.

MLB
MLB starts their season this Thursday, July 23 with a double header.

NY Yankees vs. Washington Nationals - 6 PM CST
SF Giants vs. LA Dodgers - 9 PM CST

The season went from 162 games to 60 games ~ 40 divisional games and 20 interleague games.

Lance Lynn will be our starting pitcher on Friday, July 24th when we start our season in Colorado vs. the Rockies. On Sunday we'll get to see the debut of Corey Kluber, whom we acquired from Cleveland. He broke his arm in 2019 after playing 9 season with the Indians. I am excited to see what he adds to our bullpen.

The one thing you won't see when/if you watch the games Thursday night are fans. It's what they've chosen to do and most likely what the NFL will do too.

For those of us with season tickets, we're in a holding pattern. We have a brand new stadium, which despite the turf, I was excited to see. Even though you can't attend games, which is the best part about stadiums, they are offering tours.

Here is the Texas Rangers Schedule. We should have a good "season" for what it's worth. And MLB still has a game scheduled at the Field of Dreams field on August 13. It will be the White Sox vs. Cardinals instead of the Yankees, but it will be fun to watch!

As for the players, there are a few who won't be there in person either. For various reasons they have opted not to play this season, including big names like Buster Posey and Ryan Zimmerman. Here is a full list of players.

Check out this list for all details you want to know about MLB rule changes.

p.s. Are the Astros off the hook?

#LetsGoRangers
#TexasRangers
NBA
The NBA is in a bubble, literally. They are trapped inside of Disney and have to play their games there, eat there, sleep there and do everything there. They can't even have food brought in from outside.

But they can chill in tiny pools and fish, as Luka is doing here.

Their season starts on July 30th with 22 teams instead of the full 30. These 22 teams were projected to make it to the playoffs.

The good news is the Dallas Mavericks made the list, and Luka is healthy!!! At the beginning of the season, we had a lot of injuries, but thankfully these guys had time to heal up, which should make for really good basketball.

Here is the Mavs full schedule. We have 8 "seeding" games to make it into the next round, starting with the Rockets on Friday night, July 31st. This shall be interesting my friends!!

Also, many sportscasters have already named LeBron the MVP, which does pose the question on how stats will look in all major league sports this year. Everyone loves the word asterisks, but it is definitely necessary in my book.

#LetsGoMavs
#Luka
#DallasMavericks
NFL
There are a lot of moving parts to the NFL side of things; however, we think training camp starts on July 21st for Rookies, July 23 for QB's, and July 28 for Veterans.

This would mean that they only play one or two pre-season games and start the season on-time, without fans. The pre-season games are still TBD. Players don't want the risk, but honestly, they haven't wanted pre-season games for a while now. I've never played the game, clearly, but I understand the need for the transition and the desire to avoid risk of injury. Hopefully players and owners reach and agreement soon!

We all agree that no professional sport is "essential," so if players are concerned, they can do what the MLB players did and decide to sit out this season. I assume that is what it will come to. Not everyone makes millions in the NFL, so some people will feel the need to play more than others. And lets be honest, football is all a risk, as are most sports!

Here's a link to the Cowboys full schedule. And let's not even talk about the Dak contract. I feel like it's all they had to talk about on ESPN for months. I'm okay with whatever happens. Dak is a solid player and this is the year we need to make it deep into the playoffs or there will be even more changes to come. We also have a new head coach who has hopefully met all of our players by now. It's all so crazy! Here's hoping we have a season friends!!

p.p.s. Did y'all know Cam Newton is vegan? I did not know this. He's compared in this article to Tom Brady and his diet regimen; however, he's just an avoid nightshades kind of guy, not an all out vegan. Very interesting. I always wonder how many calories these guys have to eat to stay as fit as they do. Good times.

#GoCowboys
#DallasCowboys
GOLF
Golf has been entertaining and something fun to watch the past few weeks.

It's a thousand degrees in Texas or I would be playing more golf.

We have a tournament just about every weekend from here until the end of the year. These guys all used their quarantine time to rest up, practice and workout. I'm not sure what spurred Bryson DeChambeau to gain 20 lbs of muscle, but it is paying off. He had a 428 yard drive a few weeks ago, which beat out Matthew Wolff and Brooks Koepka.

Bucket lists will have to wait...
My dad and I were supposed to be a the Ryder Cup this year, but it was cancelled and moved to 2021. Bummed, yes, but ready to fully enjoy it next year, even more so. No restrictions, just golf and being outdoors. Next year, Dad, next year.

#golflife
#pga
#pgachampionship
Random Info
I hope you have all been able to get outside, enjoy the fresh air and see a few friends! Daily walks, my little garden and workouts are keeping me going, along with occasional hugs from family and friends. If you know a hugger, you may want to check on them because it's been interesting these past few months. Don't get me wrong, alone time is great, but when I see a new person or friend I haven't seen in a while, I talk their ear off like I've never had a real conversation before. Ha! Just keep doing the best you can and stay healthy! It will all be good! Joy comes in the morning friends!!

"Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." Psalm 30:4-5

"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13

If you have been feeling anxious, here is a great song to listen to. Peace be Still

#hugsomeone
#sunsets
#gardens
#choosejoy
#trustGod
#HeNeverFails

~smile~

We have LIVE SPORTS ~ The Last Dance ~ Golf Life ~ Plant Life

2020-05-17T12:02:00.000-05:00

We have Live Sports

GOLF TODAY

Calling all golf fans or people who just want to see live sports!!!

Today, Sunday, May 17th, four PGA Tour Champions tee off at Seminole Golf Club in Florida!

Time: 1:00-5:00 PM CST

How to watch: Sadly from your home, but these channels will be showing it live: NBC, Golf Channel, NBCSN

Format: 18 holes skins match

Who is playing?

Well, it's a TaylorMade sponsored event, TaylorMade Driving Relief; therefore it requires all players to be sponsored by TaylorMade (the most I've ever written TaylorMade in a sentence).

Rory McIlroy & Dustin Johnson
vs.
Oklahoma State (go pokes)
Rickie Fowler & Matthew Wolff

You may think this is an unfair match-up, but Matthew Wolff doesn't think so, read along and check out these images below, from @PGATOUR on Twitter.

Image from @PGATOUR on Twitter

This dudes 5 iron goes as far as my driver. Not a big deal.

All money goes to a charity. I want DJ and Rory to win for the Nurses Association, but from a player standpoint, I want Fowler and Wolff to win.

Side note: These guys have to carry their own bags today. No Caddies. Crazy! That in an of itself will be fun to watch.

#TaylorMade
#PGATour
#DJ
#RickieFowler
#MatthewWolff

GOLF SUNDAY MAY 24th

It may be Memorial Day Weekend, but it's so much more than that!!!

On Sunday, May 24th, it will be the greatest golfing event ever!!

The Match: Champions for Charity

Time: 1:00 PM CST

How to watch: TNT, TBS, truTV & HLN

Format: Front 9 - Four ball, Back 9 - Modified Alternate Shot

Who is playing?

Phil Mickelson & Tom Brady
vs.
Tiger Woods & Peyton Manning

Where: Tiger Woods Course, The Medalist

Image from @PGATOUR on Twitter

Watch this interview and all of your dreams will come true. Your sports dreams, that is.

I've watched that interview three times, just to hear the trash talk and the reminiscing. Yes, there is so much more to life than sports, but at the same time, it's so much fun to watch people compete.

Lefty (Phil) beat Tiger last year in a one on one match-up. This year they added teammates, who like most of us average golfers, are hoping to break 100. That may be my favorite part. These guys are just hoping to hit a fairway. Me too!

Announcers for the round: Justin Thomas and Charles Barkley. HAHA!! I can't wait!

#TheMatch
#PGATour
#TigerWoods
#Lefty
#PeytonManning
#TomBrady

NASCAR

We also have NASCAR today!! I am not going to pretend to know anything about that sport. I know the names because I hear them on Sports Center and they show up on my twitter feed sometimes.

But I do know that Ryan Newman is racing today. I'm sure the whole world, or at least the sports world saw his crash at Daytona in February that sent him to the hospital, thought for dead, and instead walked out on his own two days later. He describes the entire event as a miracle in this article.

The Darlington Cup Series
Time: 2:30 PM CST
Channel: FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Ryan Newman is car #6.

The Last Dance

I'm only through episode 6, but it's taking me back. I was in middle school and high school when Jordan was Jordan. I remember my Uncle Guy helping out with the San Antonio Spurs for a while. He was able to get us tickets to see the Chicago Bulls play the Spurs in 1998. Just before the Spurs won the Championship in 1999. Our seats weren't close and our cameras weren't that good enough back then to get a good photo of him. But we were there and I guess I'm one of those kids who gets to say, "I watched Michael Jordan in person and in his last season with the Bulls."

It's funny because we all watched Rodman go from the Spurs to the Bulls, here in Texas. Seemed like a mess at the time, but it all worked out well for everyone! I can think of many players now that need that kind of "freedom" and "attention." It just doesn't always work out as well as it did for Rodman, ahem, AB.

Just think about how much social media and TV has changed the way we view greatness. Jordan's greatness was ALL basketball. He learned to lean on his teammates a little bit, but it was still all Jordan. This is totally fine, but now we expect elite pro athletes to give back, have great moral character, be activists, etc. I believe it's because we all know that what is going on in someones soul is more important than trophies on a wall. I'm not here to say it's not fun to watch guys like Jordan, because it is! It's Greatness! But even with all of his greatness, I still enjoy supporting the Benjamin Watson's and Drew Brees' of the world too.

"How can a game have such an effect on a man's soul? The way I see it, how can it not?" ~ Johnny Crawford "Seven Days in Utopia"

#TheLastDance
#Jordan
#NBA
#greatness

Golf & NASCAR... it's just the beginning!

With all of the safety measures in place, we are just excited to see action! I'm not a huge fan of TV, so it's been a rough couple of months, from a "I'm thankful to be safe and have a home to live in" perspective.

However, it has been nice to sit and read a book, tend to the nine million plants I now own (it's become a problem). And workout more than I had did before.

If you're in need of indoor plants, these are my favorite! They're hard to kill and are aesthetically pleasing. I also recommend an aloe vera plant. They can be used for your nourishing your skin, healing burns, cuts, sunburns, etc.

I've also been able to play more golf with my family. That's been one of the best parts. Most courses in Texas stayed open, which helped a lot! Get some fresh air, vitamin D and human interaction. Things we all need and I hope now we're all getting!

#lovelife
#hugsomeone
#laugh
#havefun
#getoutside
#golf
#butterflyonbag
#plants
#herbgarden

~smile~

If you miss Live Sports, I'm here for you ~ Digital NFL Draft ~ MLB ~ NBA ~ PGA ~ Backyard Basketball

2020-04-20T22:15:00.004-05:00

Sports on Replay

If you've finally come out of the shock of everything going on in the world, then you've realized we've gone Back to the Future with sports.

As I'm writing to you, from my amazing 700 sq. ft. apartment, I am watching Game 1 from the 2010 ALDS series. Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays. Cliff Lee is the starting pitcher and I'm getting tears in my eyes watching each of the guys come to the plate and Wash in the dugout. The antlers and the claw. Some of the best days in Texas Rangers baseball. We're winning 4-0 and I'm pretending like it's the first time I've seen it.

Caveat...

I'm not a huge fan of replaying sports. It's why I still have cable. Everyone makes fun of me, but I'm not in a place where I fully trust my internet speed. If I were to stream live sports, only to watch it "buffer" during the last putt on 18 during The Masters, or the bottom of the 9th during a Rangers game, or the last 2 minutes in a Cowboys or Mavs game... no thank you. If you can talk me out of this, go for it!

MLB... If you build it...
We're all so thankful to have our health and for the hard work that everyone is contributing to ending the spread of COVID-19 and helping those who are sick.

So as we sit in our homes, in gratitude, and in some states look at getting back to work, it doesn't mean we'll get sports back as quickly as we'd like.

The Texas Rangers built an amazing new ballpark. With turf. I am not a fan of the turf; however, my parents and I have our 10 game pack and are all ready to go! They built it, we're ready to come. But, that doesn't look like it's going to happen for a while.

**This just reminded me that this was the year that the White Sox were going to play the Yankees in Iowa at the Field of Dreams field. Tears. I assume that won't be happening now.**

According to Forbes, 28% of revenue driving by the MLB is from ticket sales, $2.8 billion. The Rangers ticket sales accounted for $71M in 2019, the 16th most revenue driving club.

Since fans won't be in attendance and they'll be missing out on sales, players and coaches will need to take pay cuts, like the rest of America.

WE MUST SAVE THE SEASON, they say...

Here are some of the ideas from the MLB Commissioner, Rob Manfred, whom I met a few years ago in Dallas at the President George Bush library.

1) Play games (without fans) in Arizona. Arizona is where Spring Training is held.
2) Play the season in Japan. Please no... I don't need time zone issues while trying to watch baseball.
3) Start the season in July (with fans), after, what would have been, the All-Star break.
4) Evenly distribute all teams between Florida, Arizona and Texas. Technically we have two ballparks in Arlington and Rough Riders in Frisco. This is my favorite idea! More baseball for us!!! But, the players from LA aren't so keen on being away from their families. I'm pretty sure most of them could buy a house here too. #justsayin'

Honestly, all of those options make me so sad. I don't want anyone to get sick or die, ever, from anything. So I guess we need to figure out how to get back to doing the things we enjoy, while those who need to be protected the most can feel protected.

As of now, we're hoping we get to go to a few games this year! If they open the stadium, I'll be there!! I may not leave.

**Just for old times sake, here are some pics from the Manfred event and a link to watch Derek Jeter hit his last home run in Yankee Stadium... and I just so happened to be there for it. You've gotta love live sports! And Manfred grew up a Yankees fan.**

#MLB
#TexasRangers

NFL Draft

Why are they still having the NFL draft? Because they hope to play football this Fall. With or without fans.

Back in 2018, when they changed the order of the draft, to start on Thursday's, I wrote a blog post about it and my fun experiences in NYC when it was held at Radio City. Read along if you'd like.

As for this year, it will all be digital. The event was supposed to be held in Las Vegas, but that won't be happening due to the virus. So, all teams will be picking from their homes, not war rooms, and the players will be waiting in their homes, instead of siting at the round tables.

Who will benefit here? In some way the players. When you're the guy who thought you were going 5th in the draft and you drop to 25th... you're going to be glad it's just you and your webcam at home.

Now for the Owners, GM's and Coaches... it seems like it will be a challenge to do this from different places. They have to make decisions so quickly when they're "on the clock." I can't imaging trying to trade up to get someone or doing a huge transaction over Zoom or something more secure.

If you have the time to watch the movie Draft Day, you'll see what I'm talking about. I love the working from home aspect, but not for the Draft. I hope they don't have glitches or technical issues that result in us getting a player we don't need. But if Tua falls to #17 because of technical issues... we'll take him!

Speaking of... What do the Cowboys need in the draft this year?

A DEFENSE y'all! We traded everyone away. Even Witten is gone. Not Defense, but still. We do have a new coach this year, Mike McCarthy, and he will make sure we get what we need.

You can watch the draft on your regular channels: NFL Network, ESPN or ABC.

First Round starts Thursday, 7 PM CST.

The Cowboys have the 17th pick in the 1st round Thursday night.

Finally, something LIVE!!!

#NFLdraft
#DallasCowboys

NBA & PGA

I'm the ONLY one who wasn't able to watch the NBA "The Last Dance" documentary about Michael Jordan Sunday night. Just kidding, according to a poll I saw, only 6% of Americans watched it. What? Maybe we all DVR'd it because it wasn't LIVE!!!! Yes, I miss live sports. But for now, it's documentary time. Check it out, let me know what you think.

In the meantime, the NBA doesn't know what to do with it's season, just like the MLB. The NBA Finals would normally run in June, ummm yeah, it's April.

All I know is, Luka Doncic will be 100% by the time we play again!! All of these athletes will be! Including golfers!

The PGA announced it wants to start their season back on June 11th in Fort Worth!! Yay!! Right??? The Colonial tournament! Except, it will be played without fans (anybody feeling left out here). But, how will all of the players get there, especially international tour players? I am all for watching golf, even if it's on TV; however, I don't see how an international sport like golf will be able to pull this off? The MLB and NBA have Canada to consider, but that's about it. PGA is all over the world, if they're being fair to their players. This shall be interesting!

#NBA
#Mavs
#PGA
#golflife

Trick Shots

So, I've been fortunate enough to see my parents on the weekends still. I've been "checking on them," and they have a basketball court in their backyard. Bike rides and this basketball court have been a game changer.

Here's a shot of my dad making a 3 over my mom, while sitting in a chair. He was feeling good about himself because he had just beaten us in a game of Around the World. I call it, home court advantage. I only live 10 miles away, but it treats me like a visitor every time.

#pray
#hugsomeone (use wisdom here)
#pray
#washyourhands
#pray
#stayhomeifyouaresick
#pray
#enjoythefreshair
#family

**As I'm finishing this blog post, I'm now watching Game 2 of the 2010 ALDS. Don't worry, we're ahead 2-0. Tampa Bay is going down!**

#FOXSportsSouthwest

~smile~

Coronavirus and Sports ~ Suspended or Cancelled ~ It Shall Come to Pass

2020-03-12T23:50:00.000-05:00

Coronavirus & Sports

Well, I never thought I'd write a blank sports email.

No scores, no updates, no clue what Sport Center will cover over the next 30 days? The news? NFL draft prospects? Or a lot of webcam interviews from players and coaches in their homes?

I am sure you're all aware of the government restrictions for the next 30 days. And I hope you're aware that you should be washing your hands, a lot, and staying home if you feel sick, in any way!!

So what's going on in the sports world?

Almost every major sporting event has been cancelled or postponed. Click this link for a complete list.

NBA - postponed the current season and hope to re-evaluate in the next 30 days - Rudy Gobert, who plays for the Utah Jazz was the first player to contract the virus and will fully recover. Basically, he didn't wash his hands.

MLB - cancelled Spring Training and delayed the start of the regular season (tears, I have tickets for April 2nd in our new stadium)

XFL - cancelled their whole season

Men's and Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament - cancelled (I can't even with this one, Senior's will never play in their last tournament)

Golf - cancelled all tournaments until The Masters (please don't cancel The Masters, but I get it) April 9-12

MLS (soccer, I know not all of you know what MLS is) - is suspending play for 30 days

NHL - suspended the season indefinitely, may go straight to playoffs when play resumes (this is fine, hockey is the longest season ever)

NFL - The Combine and the Daft (April 23-25) will most likely be impacted

And the list goes on. The Olympics in Japan are under review, as well as all other sporting events in the future.

I don't believe any of us have ill will towards anyone in the world or would want to put people in harms way; however, this is a shock for sports fans. I don't watch regular TV and the majority of my social activities revolve around sporting events. I am sad. I get why they are doing this and I fully understand slowing down the spread of the virus will help medical teams catch up with it. And it's for the safety of the American people. But it doesn't make this less sad and disheartening for fans and players, especially college athletes.

So many people are impacted here, and it's not just million dollar athletes. Kevin Love, who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, donated to the stadium workers, who are hourly employees and they need all of the assistance they can get, as do all hourly employees across all industries. Mark Cuban, the Mavs owner, also mentioned paying hourly workers for upcoming games during his, now famous, reaction to the NBA suspension during Wednesday nights game.

As for the trickle down effect... fans may not get their money back on tickets. Seems trivial at a time where we're focused on health, first and foremost, but it is crazy to think about everyone impacted by this virus from sports, to travel, to our daily jobs, restaurant owners, grocery stores, etc.

I won't get into the politics of all of this, mainly because I believe that should always be an "in person" discussion and done maturely; however, if 30 days is what we need without sports, then I'll read a few books and finally learn how to play the piano, I guess.

Am I crying, maybe a little whimper - life without sports is SAD. Even my niece and nephews sports are cancelled. I have no sports outlet. But, this shall all come to pass. And my prayer is that no one else dies from coronavirus anywhere in the world, and that all who contract the virus will recovery fully!

On a Lighter Note
(if you're not in the mood for humor, please do not read this section, it is simply meant to make you laugh a little since the rest of this is so real, heavy and serious - this is not to make light of the virus itself, just trying to find a few positives along the way)

What good will come from 30 days (minimum) of not having major league sports?

1. Luka will finally have time for his ankle and thumb to heal! He kept playing with that splint on his hand and most likely re-injuring it every night. I'll take a healed Luka for $500, Bob.

2. Steph Curry just came back in the league and was starting to dominate all over again. This gives teams 30 days to get out the old game film and freshen up on defensive schemes.

3. The NBA said they're fine pushing their season into August if need be. Do they know that it is sacred ground for the NFL? Pending the CBA agreement, we may be playing 17 games next year.

4. The Astros didn't think anything would save them from total embarrassment from their sign stealing scandal as they went into the 2020 season. Well, a pandemic will do the trick.

Never Not Be Afraid
(Intentional double negative, quote from the Croods movie, highly recommended, and I know you have time to watch it now)

The Croods Movie Quote poster by Gian Nicado

Fear "an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or threat" - Dictionary.com

Wisdom "the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgement" - Dictionary.com

Fear of the unknown is a real thing. However, we do not have to live in fear. God is not a God of fear, and I know that he provides us wisdom on how to proceed in all situations in life, especially something like this.

My encouragement is to pray. I am asking the Lord to help guide leaders across our country and world to make the best decisions possible. And for more tests to be created, distributed and for medical professionals to be confident as they see new patients and possible coronavirus cases. For us citizens to be mindful of others, help where we can and use discernment as we try to go about our lives as normally as possible. And to (no joke) not hoard out of fear. There are people who truly need toilet paper, and I saw for myself today that there isn't any at the store.

Tonight, at Trader Joe's, I thanked the worker for coming into the store today so I could buy groceries. He looked shocked, but I know it's a real concern to be in a job where you're interacting with people all day long and have no clue if they've been following the CDC guidelines (or basic hygiene). Therefore, I will be cautious, wise and grateful for every moment. Life is good, and I hope that this comes to pass soon, for all of us.

Proverbs 29:25
"The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe."

Isaiah 65:24
"It shall come to pass, That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear."

Joshua 1:9
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

#pray
#hugsomeone (use wisdom here)
#pray
#washyourhands
#pray
#stayhomeifyouaresick
#pray

~smile~

NBA All-Star Game ~ Mavs ~ MLB New Rules ~ XFL ~ People

2020-02-14T17:25:00.005-06:00

GO MAVS!!! 33-22 (wins ~ losses)

It's officially the All-Star break and we're sitting at 12th in the NBA.

Luka is on Team LeBron. Y'all, check out this list of players and read the stats on Luka. I know he is a prodigy of some sort, but it's still crazy to believe he's 20 years old. It also lists out the new format for the game. Money will be given to a charity at the end of each period, etc. Luka will also play in the Friday night, Rising Stars game, U.S. vs. the World. All Freshman and Sophomores. Here's the list for this game.

From @nba.com

Our Season so far...

Our bench continues to do a great job, and can we get a round of applause for Seth Curry? While Luka was out with his second round of an ankle sprain, Curry had two games with 20+ points.

Porzingis is averaging 24.3 points over the last 10 games and 9.5 rebounds. Luka has his first game back vs. the Sacramento Kings, putting up 33 points and Porzingis had 27. I enjoy watching them play, along with most guys on our bench. The random 3-point shot from Boban, with 2 minutes or less in the fourth period, may be my favorite thing!

Bottom line, these guys have fun. Yes, winning is fun, but enjoying the people you're on a team with makes such a difference! I hope they all get rest during this all-star break, and cheer Luka on from the beach.

#MFFL
#GOMAVS
#lukadoncic

MLB

The Rangers are making a lot of moves. But can we just talk about the Astros for a second.

Astros rant...

All MLB teams reported to Spring Training this week. The Rangers are in Arizona and the Astros are still apologizing for using technology and analytics to steal signs during the 2017 season, as well as other seasons.

**What is sign stealing? A sign is a hand signal used from the catcher to the pitcher to tell the pitcher what type of pitch to throw vs. the batter at the plate. Some batters hit curve balls, so you don't want to throw curve balls to that guy, etc. Naturally, you can see what the catcher is calling from a TV or if you're on second base, but it's still the human eye trying to pick up on it, not technology. Sign stealing isn't new, but it's the first time it's been "digitized" and it's not cool.**

They fired their managers, but they didn't "punish" the players. The owner of the Astros, Jim Crane, said in the linked article that they "broke the rules" but that they still deserved to win the World Series in 2017.

The issue with this is, the player code within baseball runs deep. I do not work in sports, nor have I ever been in an MLB locker room, but I know that baseball players are like elephants, they remember everything. Since the MLB and the Astros organization didn't "punish the players" in any tangible way, it's as if the other players in the league need to hold them accountable?

I feel like it's worse now because it breeds bitterness and a lot of distrust. Gerrit Cole has moved on as well as other Astros players, but what about them? They don't have to take the heat because they're not in the clubhouse anymore. So what now?

I agree with many of the comments I've read from other MLB players, saying they would rather pitch to a guy on steroids than someone stealing signs, because at least the guy on steroids could still swing and miss. So this has become a new level of wrong. Analytics are a beautiful thing, but not when they're used to cheat.

So Rangers fans. I know we don't have a World Series title, and the Astros get to keep theirs. But when we win one, and we will, it better be with integrity!!

New Rules...

I'll get into Rangers players next week, but I also need to let you know of a few new house rules for baseball. Just in time for the new Rangers stadium.

Linked in the article above is the full list, but here are two you'll care about.

Pitching: When a relief pitcher comes into a game (not the starter, but a guy who comes in after the first pitch, usually after the fifth inning), he has to pitch to at least three batters. This prevents teams from using a pitcher for one batter only.

Why would they do this? Let's say you have a left handed batter that has worse stats vs. a left handed pitcher, so, you bring in a lefty and try to strike the guy out. The next batter may be a right handed guy who has 12 home runs off lefties, so you pull the lefty and bring in a right handed pitcher. Not anymore. As a manger, you're going to have to plan for three batters at a time vs. one pitcher. Kind of fun, but it will mess with the stats again. But I guess the entire 2017 season and all of the steroid era messed with it too. C'est la vie.

Roster: Active rosters will expand from 25 to 26 players and have a maximum of 13 pitchers. Starting on September 1st (leading into the postseason), teams can have 28 players and 14 pitchers. Now it gets tricky if I bring in the new Ohtani rule. So just know that if a guy wants to bat and is also a pitcher, there's a way to do that now without it counting against your 13 pitcher limit.

Texas Rangers Opening Day is Thursday, March 26th vs. Seattle. Tickets are crazy expensive with the new stadium. So as much as I like being a part of history, I'll have to stick with the other 10 games I'll have throughout the season.

#TexasRangers
#OpeningDay
#MLB
#MLBnewrules

XFL

The biggest question of all, do we need football year-round?

Or maybe first you're asking, What is the XFL?

Great question.

It is the Spring version of the NFL. And if you're an OU fan, it's where your beloved Coach Bob Stoops landed.

It's not arena league football. It's played on the same field as the NFL, 100 yards, with 11 on 11 (11 players on the field for one team vs. 11 players on the field for the other team - this is why teams like A&M and the Seattle Seahawks call their fans the 12th Man).

There are 8 teams in the league and they play a 10 game season, which started last Sunday. One of those teams are the Dallas Renegades.

One of the points of this league is to play a faster paced version of football. Less penalties, but still protecting players. Also, players from high school could go straight to the XFL, instead of waiting three years to enter the NFL draft. This hasn't happened yet, I don't think, but it is a new opportunity in football.

The NBA is the only other league that doesn't require minor league or college ball to be played before entering the majors.

Bob Stoops is our Head Coach and GM. Our QB is non other than Landry Jones, from OU. The other notable player on the team is, Lance Dunbar (former Dallas Cowboys RB - running back).

Will I watch the XFL? Maybe, if it's on TV. However, it's golf season, baseball is starting back up, the NBA after the all-star game is the best, and March Madness is upon us. I love football, but at some point, I need to read a book too.

#XFL
#NFL
#footballyearround
#needtoreadabook

Random Info...

I went into Chick-fil-a, on Valentine's day, to grab lunch.

As I'm waiting for my to go order, the Manager of the restaurant hands me a long stemmed red rose and thanks me for coming. She walked around to each table passing out these roses. Now, if you're a non-Bachelor TV show person, like me, long stemmed red roses have been tainted a bit. But this day, I didn't mind.

People were smiling and their faces lit up as she handed them these roses. Everyone in the restaurant seemed happy and friendly with one another.

It's funny, because some people are "flower people" or "chocolate people" or "salty, not sweet people." But no matter if you're a flower person or not, it's nice to be seen.

I've had a lot of conversations lately about seeing the people around us. People at work, in the grocery store, or passing you in the park.

We all have names, we all have a purpose, we may not all speak the same languages, but why not try to engage with what we have to offer one another.

There's a older man in my apartment complex that walks from the grocery store to his apartment, over 2 miles each way. I have yet to learn his name, but I hope I meet him someday soon. I'm not sure if he walks because he likes to or if he doesn't have a car. Some days it's been rainy and I couldn't find where he went, or I was going to offer him a ride. Other days it's freezing and he's wearing his same mid-length brown leather jacket, khaki's and a plaid button down shirt. I hope he's not lonely and has kids and grandkids. If only we could let everyone in the world know how important they are, which is why I want to start by one day, learning his name.

#hugsomeone
#namesareimportant
#peopleareimportant
#chickfila
#roses

~smile~

Luka ~ Dallas Mavs ~ Super Bowl ~ KOBE

2020-01-31T22:19:00.000-06:00

GO MAVS!!! 29-19 (wins ~ losses)

1st in the Southwest Division
5th in Western Conference
11th in the NBA

Luka Doncic has a sprained right ankle, again. The same ankle he sprained a few months ago. Tears. Why now? Why? He was selected to play in the NBA All-star game in two weeks. Not that I don't care about the regular season too, I do. But it's not every year we get a guy in the All-star game! And, he had the second most votes, 4.5M. LeBron was #1.

This is extra sad because Porzingis just came back a week ago and we were starting to hit our stride again. Taking down OKC was fun, but we've got to figure out a new way to win with Luka out for at least 6 games.

In other injury news... we also lost Dwight Powell to an Achilles injury. He just had surgery and is out for the season.

Where is the bright side?

We have a long season ahead of us and we can get back in the race fairly quickly, if we can keep the rest of our guys healthy!

via @ESPN

#MFFL
#GOMAVS
#LUKA

Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is February 2nd. This Sunday!
5:30 PM CST
San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Here is the best preview I could find of the match-up. It's basically the 49ers defense vs. the Chiefs offense. And of course, Defense wins Championships.

Kobe
"How can a game have such an effect on a man's soul?" - 7 Days in Utopia

I'm not sure it was just the game, but it was more the man Kobe became after he retired from the NBA in 2016 that has hit so hard.

Yes, we all enjoy watching great players play their game, which impacts generations to come. But man, to see all of the photos of Gigi and how much she looked like her Dad. I never followed their family closely, but after seeing all of the photos, listening to all of the stories, and all of the memories people have about him personally, it's heavy.

He truly cared. People who understand how important it is to pour into others and let them know they're seen and loved will always leave a large hole in the world.

I'm sitting here watching the Kobe tribute before the Lakers game on Friday night. Tears. He did so much for basketball, was doing so much for the WNBA and youth sports, but oh how much he was doing as a husband and father. The most important role he had in his 41 years on this earth.

You've heard it from everyone that he loved being a "girl dad." Which hits home. I am one of three girls in my family and my dad is the reason why we love sports. We always joke that he never had a son, so we did the best we could, but he never complained. He coached us, raised us, and loves us. He and my mom still provide for us more than they should, but oh how thankful I am for them. I will be praying for Vanessa and the girls, especially the youngest. I can't imagine growing up with out my dad or mom, as so many young people in the world have had to do. Praying that their community and church rally around them and tangibly meets their needs, while they slowly heal.

So, where do our hearts go. My hope is that we all turn towards the Lord. In these situations, we either run to God or from him. It doesn't mean it makes sense, because it doesn't. But it means we know that life beyond this world is even more important than all that we could accomplish on this earth.

"In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."
1 John 4:9-12

#hugsomeone
#loveGod
#loveothers
#liveintentionally
#kobe
#girldad

~smile~

Week 17: Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys ~ LUKA is back and he's with Jordan ~ Bowl Season

2019-12-26T14:10:00.003-06:00

GO COWBOYS!!! 7-8 (wins-losses)

Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys (away vs. home)
Sunday, December 29th @ 3:25 PM CST

Mediocre is the word of the year, or decade, or two decades?

I said last week that we had 99 problems and Dak isn't one. I lied. We have 100 problems. Everyone is a problem. Ha! Kidding, kind of, but it's super tough being a fan.

I don't want to win this week.

Destroying the Rams in Week 15, then losing 17-9 to the EAGLES last week is too emotional.

Dak still has an injured shoulder and isn't practicing. He may be hurt more than we're all aware of. I respect this, but if you aren't the best guy to be in the pocket and can't make accurate passes, then toss the baton to Cooper Rush. We see teams win all of the time because they had to use their back-up QB, that their opponent didn't prepare for. Lord knows we could use the element of surprise right about now.

Also, here's a message to every receiver on our team... If the ball hits your hands, pads or anywhere near your body, catch the ball! Not all of them were on point, I'll give you that, but the ones that were cannot be dropped!

What happens now?

The Giants play the Eagles. Talk about a team using their back-up QB, who happens to be Eli Manning. The Giants are rotating Daniel Jones and Manning and having fun! These guys went to a bar together and celebrated after their victory vs. the Redskins. Clearly Manning is on his way out, and the Giants are testing a lot of new plays, schemes and strategies for next season, but let's take a quick page out of their book. Us sitting at 7-8 isn't that much prettier than the Giants 4-11. And the Eagles know that the Giants multi-schemed offense is a true threat to their Playoff hopes.

The Cowboys have to pass through the Washington Redskins test. They're 3-12. Yes, 3 wins, 12 losses. This is our division.

Eagles 8-7 (but the Cowboys beat them, so we're still on top)
Cowboys 7-8
Giants 4-11
Redskins 3-12

Can we just forfeit our Division Playoff spot to Tampa Bay?

No? Okay.

Sunday

The Eagles vs. Giants game will be going on at the exact same time the Cowboys are playing the Redskins.

The Eagles have to lose and the Cowboys have to win for the Cowboys to advance into the Playoffs.

If the Eagles win and Cowboys lose, they get into the Playoffs.

The Redskins may have a 3-12 record, but they put up 27 points on the board vs. Philly and 35 points vs. the Giants last week. They're not good, but they're not BAD either. We SHOULD win this game, but it still takes all the same prep and dedication as if we were playing the Patriots. Hopefully our team is prepared and they have clear direction this week, thanks to DeMarcus Lawrence!

All of our teams have a slue of injuries. No one is healthy by week 17. So, play with what you've got and all the heart you have left. There are a lot of great men that play this game, so as much as it's about W's on the stat sheets and for fans to brag about... I hope each of these guys enjoy this last week and make it all count for more than just football!

GO COWBOYS!

Redskins 21 ~ Cowboys 24

#dallascowboys
#cowboysnation
#nfl
#playoffs

GO MAVS!!! 19-10 (wins ~ losses)
2nd in the Southwest Division
5th in Western Conference
11th in the NBA

Luka is BACK!!!! So says major media sources. I really hope he's healthy. He only took four games off with a sprained ankle. I know they have all kinds of special treatments, but no one wants to see this nag him the rest of the season. Especially since he's going to be the 2019-2020 MVP!

How did our team fare without Luka? They beat the Bucks (Milwaukee, #1 team in the league) and the 76ers, but then lost a 30 point lead vs. the 2018 NBA Champ, Toronto Raptors, on Sunday. It was like Kyle Lowry took a nap in the first half, then took it to us in the 3rd and 4th.

Porzingis has played the same amount of minutes that Luka was averaging before his injury, but he averaged 12 points less. He tied Luka with 9.6 avg rebounds, so we'll see how this tandem gets back into their rhythm tonight.

The team had three days rest, with one of them being Christmas, but I believe we can beat the 12-17 San Antonio Spurs.

Luka should play limited minutes, not load management, but injury management. Totally acceptable.

He also signed a huge sneaker deal with Jordan Brand, while being injured. If only life really worked this way?? ha! Good for him! This is a fascinating article with details on why Luka signed with Jordan vs. Nike. And as a Mavs fan, could this be the foreshadowing of a player that would superseded Dirk in Mavs history? Not replace him, you can't replace #41, but could we dare to have two of the greatest players in history come through Dallas? I think so.

via @ESPN

#MFFL
#GOMAVS
#LUKA

Random Info
It's still College Football Season!! Or as we like to call it, Bowl Season.

Here's a complete list of all of the games, but the ones you're going to care about the most are listed below.

Texas Bowl — Dec. 27 - GO POKES

No. 25 Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M

NRG Stadium
Houston, TX
6:45 p.m. | ESPN

Peach Bowl (College Football Playoff semifinal) — Dec. 28

No. 1 LSU vs. No. 4 Oklahoma | Prediction and preview

Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, GA
4 p.m. | ESPN

Fiesta Bowl (College Football Playoff semifinal) — Dec. 28

No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Clemson | Prediction and preview

State Farm Stadium
Glendale, AZ
8 p.m. | ESPN

Citrus Bowl — Jan. 1 - FULLY CHEERING FOR MICHIGAN

No. 13 Alabama vs. No. 14 Michigan

Camping World Stadium
Orlando, FL
1 p.m. | ABC

Outback Bowl — Jan. 1

No. 12 Auburn vs. No. 18 Minnesota
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, FL
1 p.m. | ESPN

Rose Bowl Game — Jan. 1

No. 6 Oregon vs. No. 8 Wisconsin

Rose Bowl
Pasadena, CA
5 p.m. | ESPN

Sugar Bowl — Jan. 1 - GO BEARS

No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 7 Baylor

Mercedes-Benz Superdome
New Orleans, LA
8:45 p.m. | ESPN

College Football Playoff National Championship Game — Jan. 13

Mercedes-Benz Superdome
New Orleans, LA
8 p.m. | ESPN

I say LSU wins it all.

#hugsomeone
#bowlseason
#ncaafootball
#LSU

~smile~

Week 16: Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles ~ Dallas Mavs ~ Merry Christmas

2019-12-20T19:14:00.000-06:00

GO COWBOYS!!! 7-7 (wins-losses)

Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles (away vs. home)
Sunday, December 22nd @ 3:25 PM CST

The Philadelphia Eagles. Our nemesis. It has come down to this. Both teams are 7-7 and have to win this week. This is our second Super Bowl of the year (the first was when we played the Patriots and the Refs in Week 12, only losing that game by 4 points).

The Cowboys DESTROYED the Los Angeles Rams last week, with a 21-44 victory, at home. And the Eagles beat the, 'ahem' Redskins, 37-27.

If the Cowboys win this week, we clinch the playoff spot for the NFC East, with an 8-7 record. If the Eagles win, it gives them something like a 73% chance to win the division. Each team has one more game after this. The Cowboys play the Redskins next week and the Eagles play the Giants. This just gets uglier and uglier.

I don't know very many people who settle for mediocrity in their personal lives, so it makes it difficult to settle for being 8-8 every year, for the past twenty years. I'm ready to move forward, and I look FORWARD to changes being made so we can get to that next level as a team.

Dak vs. Wentz

Dak, the Cowboys QB, has the second most passing yards in the league, with 26 TD's (touchdowns) and 11 INT's (interceptions thrown). He looked amazing last week and has all of the potential he needs to lead our team to victory every week. Why don't we win, then? There are 99 reasons and Dak ain't one. Although he did have an MRI this week on his right shoulder, his throwing arm. He says he's fine, and that it's a similar injury he had in college, but he didn't practice this week. Hopefully the 46 degree temps in Philly will help it feel like he's icing it during the game. Just in case, our back-up QB is Cooper Rush. I don't think we'll see him, but you never know, Rush... you never know!

Wentz, the Eagles QB, has 25 TD's and 7 INT's. Everyone has been talking all year about how Wentz doesn't have anyone to throw to. Ummmm he has Zach Ertz, their TE (tight end). He hasn't had the year they wanted him to have, but he has the potential! And he has a cool story. His wife plays for the US Women's Soccer Team and they're pretty cute together. Here's a quick read about how they went from the Super Bowl to the World Cup. Zach and Julie also have a Visa Commercial together too. As for other options to throw to, well, they're all injured. But you don't see Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers complaining about their lack of weapons? Or do we? It's been a tough year for those teams, despite their winning records.

Dallas will Win

To shut Stephen A. Smith up??? Yes, please!!! We have a strong enough D to overpower Wentz and their run game. Sean Lee is playing crazy good for a 33 year old dude in the NFL. Garrett compared him to Bill Bates in this clip. Loved Billy! Lee had a sack and an interception in last weeks game! It's not often that both happen in the same game for a linebacker, but with Vander Esch still injured, Lee has found a way to stay healthy and light a fire in our Defense.

Zeke. Feed him. Sounds so simple, but he requests it and last week our O-Line (offensive line) gave it to him. Lane after lane, they found a way to open it up for this guy! Zeke rushed for 117 yards and had two TD's. Once we were ahead by two TD's, Garrett started running Tony Pollard, UNT alumni (caw, caw)! He also rushed for over 100 yards and had one TD. The Eagles D has held opponents to just 90 yards rushing per game, so this won't be easy. They may be equally as inconsistent as the Cowboys when it comes to wins and losses, but they have the potential on D to shut us down. We need our O-Line from last week to bring it one more time!

GO COWBOYS!

Cowboys 17 ~ Eagles 10

#dallascowboys
#cowboysnation
#nfl
#DalvsPhi
#dontflyeaglesdontfly

GO MAVS!!! 18-9 (wins ~ losses)
2nd in the Southwest Division
5th in Western Conference
11th in the NBA

The Mavs have a game Friday vs. the Philadelphia 76ers. Ahhh why is there so much Philly this week!

The positive and "fun" story for the game is the former pals Tobias Harris and Boban. They have a Jurassic Park clip they did together, it's hilarious and you must watch. I am still amazed that we have two 7+ foot guys on the team! Ha! They both seem so kind and Porzingis has totally stepped it up since Luka went out with an ankle sprain. He shoots three point shots from half court! Not really, but pretty close!

And Seth Curry, not Steph, has been playing like Steph! In our last two games he has 46 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Porzingis, Hardaway Jr. and Curry have been holding it down and together they defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, the #1 team in the league. Luka needs to take his time to heal. These guys have got this! (but yes, we miss Luka, please come back soon)

via @ESPN

#MFFL
#GOMAVS
#LUKA

Merry Christmas
I hope you are all able to celebrate with people you love!!

And for those of you who have lost loved ones this week, this month, this year, or many, many years ago. I am sorry that there is a hole there, where they once filled our lives, but I hope that you are able to rejoice and share about the memories you had with them. And that you continue to make new memories, as I am sure they would want you to do.

Also, I will leave you with these verses from the Bible. The truth and life that all of us are truly longing for.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Revelation 22:1-5

#hugsomeone
#MerryChristmas
#SeasonsChange
#BearFruit
#hope
#joy
#peace

~smile~

Week 15: Los Angeles Rams vs. Jerry Jones ~ Luka Doncic and Lamar Jackson ~ Cinderella

2019-12-14T00:13:00.002-06:00

GO MAVS!!! 17-6 (wins ~ losses)
1st in the Southwest Division
3rd in Western Conference
6th in the NBA

Luka Doncic is the Lamar Jackson of the NBA. Both of these young men are playing out of their minds, breaking records that we never thought would be broken and creating new records that no one thought possible.

Luka's stats (according to multiple sources):
8 triple-doubles (this season), two of those over 40 points, 1st player in NBA history to do this before age 21
1st player in NBA history to record a triple-double outside of the US & Canada (vs. the Detroit Pistons on December 12th in Mexico)
Averaging 30.4 PPG (points per game)
Averaging 9.9 Rebounds
Averaging 9.2 Assists

On February 28th, Luka turns 21 years old and he's almost averaging a triple-double on the reg. That's crazy. At age 16, he played for a Spanish professional team in the Euro League, Real Madrid Balconcesto. He led them to a Euro League title in 2018. Last year, this guy was good, but it was all about Dirk's last season. Respectfully, it was appropriate, and now it's Luka's turn to take this team to new heights and to another championship. Watch highlights from this kids game in Mexico. Feeding Seth Curry all night long, which makes him the best Curry in the league this year (his brother isn't playing this season, due to injury, kind of a Manning thing happening here).

Lamar's stats (according to multiple sources):
Broke Michael Vick's QB rushing record on December 12th
5th in the NFL in Rushing Yards (1,103, half of his teams rushing yards)
1st in the NFL in QBR (81.2, Quarterback Rating, kind of like a handicap in golf)
1st in the NFL in Touchdowns, 33, next closes person is Russell Wilson with 26
1st in the NFL to have thrown for 5 TD's and have 50+ rushing yards in multiple games this season
1st QB to throw for 30+ TD's and rush for more than 1,000+ yards in a season

On January 7th, Jackson will be 23 years old. They wanted him to play Wide Receiver in the NFL. At the combine for the 2018 NFL Draft, he refused to run the 40 and do other tests in order to prevent scouts from labeling him as "unfit" for NFL QB. Now, he runs, a lot. And it's not like QB's haven't run before... clearly Mitchell Trubisky can run, we found that out the hard way, eh? But running comes with risks, which is why the Baltimore Ravens have lucked out that this guy can throw too. Probably the most lethal threat in the NFL, and I can't wait to see how this plays out in the playoffs.

via @ESPN

#MFFL
#GOMAVS
#LUKA

GO COWBOYS!!! 6-7 (wins-losses)
Los Angeles Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys (away vs. home)
Sunday, December 15th @ 3:25 PM CST

One day at a time.

There's a lot swirling around out there. Fire everyone. Fire Garrett. Fire Jerry as GM. Fire everyone. Oh wait, I already said that.

As a fan, it's been a week to wallow. I never watch Stephen A. Smith on ESPN. He's the most anti-Cowboys person ever and it has always gotten under my skin. Well, the Friday morning after the game, I woke up, turned on Get Up and watched. Then, I tortured myself even more and watched the opening of First Take, and wallowed, all the more, as Stephen A. Smith fake smoked a cigar, spoke in his fake Texan accent, and joked that the Redskins may win our division (NFC East).

It's not that the division thing is that important, but it is the fact that a team, with a losing record, could make it into the playoffs. This is like saying the fourth best team in the East in the NBA is good. No, they're probably the 20th best team in the NBA total. The West has too many good teams that are left out each season. Which has me thinking that we need to do away with conferences all together when it comes to the playoffs. I get we need to have them for scheduling during the regular season, etc., but at some point, the best teams should all have a chance to play one another for the championship.

"You have five minutes to wallow in the delicious misery. Enjoy it, embrace it, discard it. And proceed." ~ Elizabethtown

***soap box and pity party are over***

As a Cowboys fan, how do you move forward?

1) We stick together. Do we wear paper bags on our heads, like Browns fans do every other year? Bag-headed fans. I don't think were there yet, but we're not far off.

2) Learn to listen as others spew their trash talk. Stay calm, listen, and smile while thanking them for their opinion of your misery.

3) Watch the Mavs play.

4) I would say we focus on the Texas Rangers and our new stadium, but we missed out on Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rendon. I'm actually okay with this, since these guys got paid more than I think they're worth. Cole will get $1.1M PER START! What? Whose arm is worthy of $1.1M every time you step on the mound. As much as it may be JD's time to go in Arlington, I'm okay with him getting a few pitchers we can work with and hopefully focusing on more position players too. Here's a quick list of pitchers we've already acquired. Now that the Houston Astros were caught cheating, their WS titles don't seem as threatening. And they got rid of Nolan Ryan. All is becoming right in baseball land.

The game this Sunday? I almost forgot.

The Rams are trying to make it deep into the playoffs, and they have a real shot at it. They are sitting at 8-5 on the season, and they Cowboys are in their way. Their QB, Jared Goff, and WR, Cooper Kupp, that almost has 1k yards on the season, can ball. Then you add Todd Gurley II and his new found legs, and they're pretty unstoppable.

This post below is one of the best comments I saw regarding the Cowboys and how amazing our stats are. 1st in the NFL in total yards, 1st in the NFL in passing yards, but 10th in the NFL in rushing yards. Do you see Dak going Lamar on anyone? We have a $90M RB in Zeke vs. the Rams $60M RB... guess who has more yards on the season? Zeke, but not by much, and they both have 9 TD's. I'll take $30M back, please.

So honestly, what matters this week? That these guys play as a team. Even if your coaching staff is on the way out and your GM should be on his way out too, you still have to want to win. Every team we play looks like they want to win more than we do. Jerry is a brilliant marketer, but I'm afraid he's created an environment over the past 20+ years that says that Star on your helmet means something, win, lose or draw. But, it's 2019, and it doesn't. The last time we won a Super Bowl was 1996.

1996 Trivia:
1) How many websites existed in 1996 vs. 126 million today?
2) What was the #1 movie?
3) What record did the Dow Jones break?
4) What was the #1 book?
5) What was the #1 song?
6) Who won the Super Bowl in 1996? Oh - you know this one! Yay!

Watch the game or don't. I believe we'll play hard, because we have talented players who want to win, but we need to do more than have two successful series' out of the gate and then look like we left the rest of the game plan on our tray at Wendy's. A frosty does sound good though.

GO COWBOYS!

Rams 17 ~ Cowboys 14

Checkout the Cowboys full schedule

#dallascowboys
#cowboysnation
#firsttake
#nfl
#getup
#texasrangers

Trivia Answers:
1) 100,000
2) Independence Day
3) closed over 6,000 for the first time
4) The Runaway Jury by John Grisham
5) Don't Speak by No Doubt

Random Info...
I'll leave you with these two, brilliant quotes.

"Just because it's what's done, doesn't mean it's what should be done."

"We simply must have courage and be kind."

~Cinderella~

#hugsomeone
#nocomplaining
#bekind
#havecourage

~smile~

Week 14: Dallas Cowboys vs. Chicago Bears ~ Luka and Mavs beat Lakers and LeBron ~ Rakuten and Honey

2019-12-01T22:28:00.001-06:00

GO COWBOYS!!! 6-6 (wins-losses)
Dallas Cowboys vs. Chicago Bears (away vs. home)
Thursday, December 5th @ 7:20 PM CST

One word. Beasley.

Y'all, I forgot Cole Beasley went to the Buffalo Bills after he left the Cowboys. He destroyed us last week. I forgot how fast he is and how much fun it was to watch him play, when he was on our team. However, I did not have fun watching him play last week, nor any part of the 26-15 Thanksgiving Day loss.

Three questions the Cowboys are asking themselves this week...

1) What will our coaching options be, at the end of the season. Jerry verbally committed to Jason Garrett through the end of the year, but it's not looking good for Garrett in 2020.

2) CAN WE GET DAN BAILEY BACK? This was our kicker, that we got rid of for Brett Maher. Just because Bailey had an injury and wanted more money, I don't think we should have been so quick to get rid of him. We need better than 67.9% accuracy and we were spoiled with Bailey. He plays for the Minnesota Vikings now and is 88.2% accurate this season.

photo @pinterest

Since he already has a team, the Cowboys are hosting a workout for new kickers.

3) Did the Miami Dolphins really beat the Eagles? Yes, yes they did. Dallas is still first in the NFC East, while the Eagles fell to 5-7.

Y'all, I think the Dolphins are the smartest team in the league. The played dead for the first few games, to secure last, or close to last place in the league and get the draft pics they wanted. However, halfway through the season, they started playing well enough to lose by small margins or even win a few games. All of this makes them look even more enticing to new recruits for next year. And, you have Fitzpatrick's beard, that will welcome anyone with a grizzly hug.

Trick play of the century. Watch this. #trickplay #miamidolphins

Dallas vs. Chicago, in Chicago

Da Bears. Also a 6-6 team, with quite a few issues of their own, and few hopes of making it into the playoffs.

They've had a season full of QB woes, with Mitch Trubisky as their starter, and have taken a lot of heat for choosing him as the second pick in the 2017 NFL draft.

He finally had a good game vs. the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving and walked away with a victory.

He threw for 338 yards and 3 TD's (touchdowns). He spread the love between his RB, Montgomery, and two of his WR's Horsted and Robinson II. Now, Anthony Miller is their top WR... so they have a decent receiving corps, if Trubisky can get them the ball.

Dallas' task list...

No mistakes.
No penalties.
Must make field goals.
Must convert on 3rd down.
Must go for it on 4th down, if it make sense, not just because we did or didn't last week.
Secondary better hang with the WR's I mentioned above.
Zeke has to run for more than 90 yards.
We need another TD from Witten and one from Gallup.

Injury Report. I'll keep checking this daily, but as of now, Cooper is supposed to play.

Assuming Cooper plays Thursday, Bears safety, Eddie Jackson told The Chicago Suntimes that he's ready for him. Read on. #rolltide

What will happen Thursday?

It will be cold at Soldier Field, 30-40 degrees, but no precipitation, as of now. Hopefully Dak has winter gloves, like the golf winter gloves that have been a life saver for me a few times. But I must say, I love outdoor sports. All of this indoor stuff seems cheesy after watching the Baltimore and Green Bay games Sunday. So fun seeing snow and rain and these guys playing like you would in your backyard. Ah, the good old days.

I believe the Cowboys will win, but only by a field goal. And yes, I'm being too positive still. I know, I know.

Only four games left in the season... tears.

GO COWBOYS!

Cowboys 17 ~ Bears 14

Checkout the Cowboys full schedule.

#dallascowboys
#cowboysnation

GO MAVS!!! 10-5 (wins ~ losses)

Watching the Mavs beat the Lakers on Sunday, thus breaking their ten game win streak, was incredibly fun. Especially during the third period when the Mavs scored 17 unanswered points.

Luka didn't have a great first half, but our bench had his back. Justin Jackson scored 15 points and Delon Wright scored 17 points. Wright also had 9 assists and 5 rebounds. Watching these guys come off the bench and drain a three point shot is amazing. Jackson went 3-5 and Wright went 3-6.

Powell and Porzingis both scored 15 points each, while bringing in 15 rebounds combined. Between their rebounds and Luka's, the Defense is what helped us get the lead in the second half and go up by 19 points in the fourth period.

Luka, of course, almost had a triple double, 27 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds. His step-back three over LeBron was beautiful. Also, this Luka dunk may have been my favorite moment, it's like the Lakers just stepped back and admired his speed.

Don't look now, but we're 9th in the NBA (out of 30 teams). Since beating the Lakers, they dropped to a tie for first with the Milwaukee Bucks, while we're tied with the Houston Rockets, ahem... that we beat a week ago.

I try not to get my hopes up, but with the Cowboys playing the way they are and it being off-season for the Rangers... I have to be hopeful!

p.s. the Rangers signed a new pitcher, Kyle Gibson. Do we think we'll get Anthony Rendon?

Back to the Mavs...

According to @MavsPR on Twitter... the last time the Mavs ended a teams win streak was in the 2010-2011 season when they ended the Miami Heat's 12 game win streak on 12/20/2010.

You do remember what happened that year? If not, here's Dirk, at the Mavs vs. Lakers game to remind you. He just started attending games, as a non-player, and @tim_cato tweeted that the Mavs are undefeated and win by an average of 26 points when Dirk is in the building this year.

This is not hard.

Dirk,

Please come to more games.

Sincerely,

Every MFFL

via @ESPN

#MFFL
#GOMAVS
#LUKA

Random Info...
If you're shopping online for Cyber Monday or Cyber Tuesday, you need to download Honey (coupon app) and Rakuten Ebates for cash back on all online purchases.

Or you can download their apps. It's worth it, promise.

Also, before you buy, buy, buy... #nsync, check out this article on clutter. It may help you prioritize before you spend, spend, spend.

And now that I've mentioned N'Sync... Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

#cybermonday
#shopwisely
#rakuten
#honey
#hugsomeone

~smile~

Week 13: Buffalo Bills vs. Dallas Cowboys ~ Dallas Mavs and Luka ~ Give Thanks

2019-11-27T22:30:00.001-06:00

GO COWBOYS!!! 6-5 (wins-losses)
Buffalo Bills vs. Dallas Cowboys (away vs. home)
Thanksgiving Day, November 28th @ 3:30 PM CST

We lost the Super Bowl vs. The Patriots last week.

There was rain and mud and more rain and Dak with no gloves on, then Dak with gloves on, then there's a Brady and a big New England Defense, but a fast Cowboys Defense... and a few refs, who were clearly pro Patriots. Oh, then there were the Dallas Cowboys Coaches.

So many missed opportunities to go for a touchdown or catch a punt return, which executing both flawlessly would have been essential to defeat the now 10-1 Patriots.

Jerry Jones got extra angry after the game, like angry Elf kind of angry. Even though the refs admitted that they shouldn't have called our Offensive Line for "tripping," because Bill Belichick (Pats Head Coach) tipped them off, shocker, but we still have a talented team of guys and shouldn't be sitting at 6-5.

The Buffalo Bill are comin' to town. For the first time, on Thanksgiving day, in 25 years.

Y'all. The Bills are sitting at 8-3 and yet the Cowboys are favored to win by 6.5 points this Thursday. So confusing.

The Bills have a really good Defense. They're ranked third in the NFL behind the San Francisco 49ers and the New England Patriots in Yards Allowed Per game (YDS/G, meaning, not a lot), 288.6, and in PPG (points per game) at just 15.7.

Where does our Dallas D rank? Not too far off. We're sitting in the 7th spot for PPG and in the 6th spot for YDS/G. We also have Jaylon Smith, ranked 4th in the league in tackles, 98, and Robert Quinn, ranked 8th in the league with 9.5 sacks this season.

But "they" are saying that the Bills D is still too much for our Offense. They may not have players sitting in the top 10's in stats, but they play great as a unit, which is the entire purpose of playing a team sport.

Josh Allen is the Bills QB. Our plan, attack and rush the guy. He's thrown eight interceptions this season and only 15 TD's. His main WR is Josh Brown, who averages 14.8 yards per reception and has 5 TD's this season. If you compare that with Amari Cooper, our #1 WR, he averages 15.8 yards per reception and has 7 TD's. So, we're matched on our top receivers, except Cooper didn't have a single reception in last weeks loss to NE. I expect a huge week for Cooper this week.

The outcome...

I have friends hoping we lose the game this week, because it means our head coach, Jason Garrett, would most likely be fired. Sometimes, you need new leadership. I'm not in the locker rooms and have never talked to Garrett, but expectations are high and we need a victory.

If you're going to the game on Thanksgiving Day, it will be raining, so be thankful for the covered roof. I'm not sure how many Dallas fans would have stuck it out in weather like the New England fans had in Foxborough last week, but I enjoyed watching a game outdoors and on real grass.

GO COWBOYS!
Buffalo Bills 12 ~ Cowboys 14

Checkout the Cowboys full schedule.

#dallascowboys
#cowboysnation

GO MAVS!!! 11-6 (wins ~ losses)

We had a five game win streak going into the game Tuesday vs. the LA Clippers, then we lost 114-99. Not fun. Luka had 22 points, Porzingis had 10 rebounds, and Tim Hardaway, Jr. had 8 points, which was uncharacteristic since he has had double digit games in the three previous victories.

Maybe a couple of days off will give our guys time to rest up and get ready for the Phoenix Suns, who are 8-8 on the season. Devin Booker is their starting shooting guard and star player. Pretty sure Luka and company can get the W before heading into LA to play LeBron on Sunday, December 1st. Now that's going to be a game to watch! MVP, MVP, MVP, for Luka, not Bron, Bron.

via @ESPN

#MFFL
#GOMAVS
#LUKA
#NBAMVP

Random Info...
Why is it important to be thankful?

Well, one of my favorite verses in the Bible is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

This verse, if applied to all areas of life, is quite powerful.

Rejoice, or be joyful always, isn't happiness, it's choosing to see the good in a situation or circumstance. And for those who believe in God, acknowledging that He is Joy, therefore joy is always abounding where the Lord is.

Praying continually. I've always imagined this as a long conversation with God. Just talking, as friends would, or you would with your family.

Then the one we eat turkey for... give thanks in all circumstances. Sounds easy, but it isn't. Not when life throws one punch after the other. I've had quite a few friends experience loss recently, and it breaks my heart. Grief is a very real emotion and season of life that can make you feel like you're in a cloud of darkness.

How are you thankful there? You reach out to your friends and family and let them know where you're at. It could be 30 years, 10 years, 3 years or 3 weeks ago that you lost someone. And man it can hurt. But as I've said many times, we're not meant to live life alone.

Not the happy go lucky Thanksgiving message you were hoping for, but I want to include this link for anyone who may need a new place to share what they're going through and to know that they're not alone! Grief Share.

The last part of that verse is, this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. God's will is that you would have JOY, that is from Him, that you would pray, which brings you closer to Him, and give thanks, so that you would be able to see and acknowledge, by His grace and faith alone, that in the best of times and the worst of times... God is good.

#hugsomone
#happythanksgiving
#thankful
#Godisgood

~smile~

Week 12: Dallas Cowboys vs. New England Patriots ~ Dallas Mavs Luka ~ Thanksgiving and Black Friday Prep

2019-11-23T00:03:00.001-06:00

GO COWBOYS!!! 6-4 (wins-losses)
Dallas Cowboys vs. New England Patriots (away vs. home)
Sunday, November 24th @ 3:25 PM CST

This is the Super Bowl.

The team who has played in more Super Bowls than we'll ever see in a lifetime (not really, but it feels like it), is hosting the 6-4 Dallas Cowboys, in New England.

We'll take our small victory over another sub-par team last week vs. the Detroit Lions and their shockingly good back-up QB from the University of Florida, and raise you a legendary QB in Tom Brady.

Reality Check.

The moment I said, The Patriots, you thought... we're going to lose.

Yes. That is a highly probably scenario.

They have won six Super Bowl Championships, since 2001, and don't just talk about it every year like the Cowboys, they actually win it. Novel. Crazy. Something every team wishes they could do.

They win by beating you at your own game. The ultimate chess match. Good coaching, good QBing (not as good this year), ~~good~~ GREAT Defense and decent Offensive weapons.

Injury Report: Tom Brady has an elbow injury. Do I think think this will keep him from playing Sunday, no. There are a ton of articles out there saying they'll play their back-up QB, Jarrett Stidham, but I don't believe it. Brady is getting back his left tackle, Isaiah Wynn. And they acquired a new Wide Receiver (WR), Quincy Adeboyejo. Three of their five WR's are injured, so they needed to pick up some help and grabbed this twenty-four year old free agent.

The Patriots do these things. They pick up new people, random people, people you've never heard of, turn them into a powerful weapon. AND they buy back time for Brady to throw by getting their left tackle back... all in the same week. Who has game film to prepare for that?

Good coaches would.

So, now that I've listed the bad parts, what or how do we have a chance to win?

Everyone on our team has to do their part. Starting with our Coaches.

We will NOT win if we don't "out-smart" Belichick (the coach for the Patriots). Even if we can't out-smart him, we have to play harder, faster and not have any penalties that could give New England an advantage. Their advantage is home field, Tom Brady, and a history of destroying other teams in creative ways. Our Defense not only needs to get to Brady, but create turnovers and opportunities for us to control the clock and the narrative.

Kellen Moore, our Offensive Coordinator, will have the toughest test of his career this week.

Can we run plays that get Zeke more involved? Or do we keep using Pollard?

Can our Offensive Line hold off the #1 Defense in the league and give Dak time to throw to Gallup, Cooper, Cobb, Witten?

Do we use all of our second string guys to throw off the expected rotation?

What will we do to try to win this game, or at least keep it close?

Everything. Because the biggest question is...

Can we win the big game?

That's actually a great question for football and for life. Winning is the result of a lot of hard work, intelligence and intentional execution.

I'm not overly confident in our staff or our team, but I know it exists. It is possible, and I HOPE we see it all come together Sunday.

I believe it will be close, but I don't see the 9-1 Patriots Defense going easy on us, especially since they've only allowed an average of 249 yards per game from their opponents this season.

GO COWBOYS!

Cowboys 13 ~ Patriots 24

Checkout the Cowboys full schedule.

#dallascowboys
#cowboysnation

GO MAVS!!! 10-5 (wins ~ losses)

We're on a four game win streak!!!

And yes, Luka is the best, ever? If I had all of the money in the world, I would go to a ton of games and watch this guy play. Some people say he's better than LeBron, at least when he was 21.

Now, LeBron created a new stat in the NBA this week, the first NBA player to have a triple double against every team in the league. Pretty cool stat, if you switch teams in the East and West every few years. I'm not sure this is a stat Luka should care about. He already has the the most 35 (or more) point games with triple doubles and is setting new records every night.

They played the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday night. Not the Cavaliers with LeBron, he's playing for the Lakers now, but the old version of this team, which led us to win 101-143. Our Starters got to sit earlier than normal, because of our big lead, which lead our Bench to score 64 points. This is great for guys like J.J. Barea who played 12 minutes and scored 12 points. But it's all put into perspective when Luka played 28 minutes and scored 30 points, shooting 50% in threes and 100% at the free throw line. Not bad for a twenty-one year old kid.

They had a guest on honor in the AAC for the game Friday night. Guess who, or click this link.

And check out this article about how Luka has helped the entire NBA.

What's next? The Mavs play the Houston Rockets, in Houston on Sunday at 2:30 PM CST. Just before kick-off for the Cowboys vs. Patriots game. I highly suggest flipping between to the two to see Luka vs. James Harden. It will be a great game!

via @ESPN

#MFFL
#GOMAVS
#LUKA

Random Info...
How to prep for Thanksgiving and Black Friday...

1) Order a Greenberg Turkey. Trust me, it tastes amazing and you will save yourself hours of work.

2) Make a list of Christmas Gifts or personal gifts using a notes app or Wunderlist. It's a pretty cool app and you can share your lists with others too! Great for meal planning for the holidays, packing lists, gift lists, party planning, etc.

3) Technology. Tech is ALWAYS on sale during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. You need a new laptop, cell phone, range finder... check prices now, add products to your cart and check it Thursday morning, or sooner. Retailers have one less week between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, so many of them are starting their sales early.

4) Small Business Saturday, November 30th. American Express kicked off this idea 10 years ago. It's like the Hallmark of shopping. Find a small town, with a small shop, owned by a sweet couple and buy something there instead of from Amazon. Will you pay $10 more, yes. Will you meet the people you're money is helping, probably. Will you enjoy your experience more than hitting a button, probably. Most of you know I started my career working for Elie Tahari in NYC as a Specialty Store Sales Assistant. I loved the fact that my buyers knew the names of the ladies they bought a fur coat for or a nice blazer, and when I went to do a trunk show, I'd meet these ladies and hear their stories. Being back in Texas, one of my favorite shops is Sunny Paige in Whitesboro, TX. You probably have no idea where this is, so for all of you in the Frisco, TX area, they have a location there too! Happy Shopping! Happy Support Your Local Business Every Day!

5) Keep an eye on these throw blankets from Restoration Hardware. They are on sale, but should go a bit deeper next week. This is a purchase you won't regret. So cozy.

6) Give back. Something we should do often, not just around Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, it is a time to be even more mindful of those around us who need family, a meal, a kind word shared with them or just a text or phone call to say Hi. Life moves quickly, this season gets rushed by our own schedules, but people are what matter most. So as long as we're not checking events off of our lists, but truly spending time with those we love, it is all worth it!

#hugsomeone
#happythanksgiving
#smallbusinesssaturday
#amex
#sunnypaige
#restorationhardware
#friendsarefamily

~smile~

Week 11: Dallas Cowboys vs. Detroit Lions ~ Dallas Mavs ~ Float Tanks

2019-11-16T00:00:00.000-06:00

GO COWBOYS!!! 5-4 (wins-losses)
Dallas Cowboys vs. Detroit Lions (away vs. home)
Sunday, November 17th @ 12:00 PM CST

We lost last week to the Minnesota Vikings. 28-24. We overcame a 14 point deficit, but we couldn't make up for it in the end.

Is it our Defense? Is it Zeke? Is it Garrett? Is it Jerry?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Dallas, we have a problem.

We have a QB, Dak Prescott, who has thrown for over 2,700 yards and 18 TD's, second in the league, and we are sitting at 5-4, tied with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles, y'all.

Zeke, where you at? There are seven other RB's (running backs) in the league who have rushed for more yards than you. Is it the play calling? Or is it because you're not being used the way you were last year? In his first 9 games in 2018, Zeke had 262 yards receiving vs. 192 this year, -26% and a receiving TD in 2018. He also had 831 rushing yards in 2018 vs. 788 yards rushing this year, -5%. We don't need to force it to him, like we did at the end of the Minnesota game, but we do need to get more inventive here.

Defense, y'all aren't bad. So what is it? We're ranked 7th in the NFL in least amount of yards allowed by the opposing Offense, but we aren't getting the interceptions we need or the takeaways. Jaylon Smith is still dominating, but we need the rest of the Defense to pick it up.

The Detroit Lions.

This team will be playing without their Dallas Native QB, Matthew Stafford. Sad for him, I'm sure playing Dallas feels like a home game, even in Detroit. But we will see how well Jeff Driskel does in his place. He played last week vs. the Chicago Bears. They lost the game, but Driskel did fairly well.

Their top WR (wide receiver) is Golladay. How do I know this? He's on my fantasy football team. He doesn't get many yards, but he's the go to in the red zone (between the 20 yard line and the goal line), and will score a TD or two.

As for a Running Back, they're lacking. Driskel was their leading RB in last weeks game.

I think this will be an easier week for our D. But, it's still the Lions. A historic rivalry and sharer of Thanksgiving Day games. I think we win, because Stafford isn't in the game. If he was, it would be much closer.

Also, look at our next few games. Our schedule doesn't get any easier. On the road in Detroit. On the road in New England. Home vs. Buffalo and then on the road in Chicago.

Bundle up Cowboys Nation. It's going to be a bumpy ride!

GO COWBOYS!

Cowboys 21 ~ Detroit 13

Checkout the Cowboys full schedule.

#dallascowboys
#cowboysnation

GO MAVS!!! 6-5 (wins ~ losses)

Luka. Luka. Luka.

But even with Luka, we've lost our last two games.

We lost by 10 points the Celtics and 3 points to Porzingis' former team, the New York Knicks. Now there was a game we needed to win badly.

According to the article linked below, Luka was just the second player to record a triple-double at Madison Square Garden before the age of 21.

Trivia: Who was the first player to achieve that feat?

All I have to say is read this article. And we need a better supporting cast. Luka averages 28.7 points per game, and that's even having him at the point guard position half of the time. Our next best player is Porzingis, averaging 18.5 points per game.

via @ESPN

Trivia Answer: Magic Johnson

#MFFL
#GOMAVS

Random Info...
Floating. Freezing. Just trying to get through the week.

So I've told y'all about cryotherapy and how I believe it's a good thing, but it's what you would expect, freezing. It's only three minutes, but that last minute will make you re-think life. Watch Bethany Hamilton try her "at home" cryo.

Floating. What and WHY would you float?

Let's just say I had an accident this past Summer that required me to try new things to help my body heal. After massages, trips to the chiropractor and using too many Salonpas patches, I decided to try floating.

The Float Spot in Frisco, TX was my place of choice. It is a dedicated space for the float pods, is very clean, and everyone I've talked to at the front desk has been very kind.

I was a bit nervous, since I'm not a fan of small spaces, not being able to breath and drowning. Fun, right? But like anything, it's mostly mental.

How to float...

Step 1) I showed up. It was an evening float (I do not recommend eating very much before you go, it's like eating a lot before bed, but eat something), because floating for an hour is equivalent to 4 hours of sleep, or so I was told.

Step 2) I checked in and chose my music. Do NOT choose the piano. As lovely as that sounds, it's an 8 minute piece that loops. There are rumors that floating causes hallucinations, um no, but listening to the same piece of music over and over again will. I recommend the generic one they give you, blue wave, or something like that. Very sound machine like. You can choose for it to play for 10 min, then you're in silence, or have it play the whole time. I have yet to go in silence, but I will get there. Baby steps.

Step 3) The kind person will show you around and explain everything to you.

Step 4) You rinse off in the personal shower in your own room.

Step 5) Dunun... dunun... You step into the POD! It has a light on and they will explain to you which end to keep your head. The pods are longer than eight feet, taller than five feet and about five feet wide. Odds are, if an NBA player can float in these things and not get claustrophobic, you will be just fine. Once again, it's mental.

Step 6) Close the POD lid. Realize you're in a foot of water and you're going to be fine. You can sit up any time. You can even open the lid or get out if you want. It's all up to you.

Step 7) Push the button to alert the front desk to start your time.

Step 8) Turn off the blue light. You are better off not seeing the whole time and truly enjoying the experience. Go big or don't go.

Step 9) Lay back and relax. Now, I had my fun injury in my neck and trap area, so the first time I floated, I had my hands behind my head half of the time. That is not the case for everyone, but even then, it was still relaxing as the water helps hold your head. I just needed a little extra support.

Now I will say, an hour is a long time. Despite my looping piano track, I found myself running through a million thoughts. It was a challenge for me. A good challenge. I felt like it was more of a personal triumph that I was able to be isolated, forced to relax and survive!

Step 10) It's the end and you're still alive! The blue light will come on and you have three minutes before the POD starts to circulate the water and clean at the end of your session.

Step 11) Shower. I recommend bringing a hair towel ladies. I rinsed off and then had wet hair all the way home the first time. So I decided to go all in and bring my hair wrap towel and just walk out with it. No shame.

Did it work?

Yes. Better than I could have ever expected.

For me, it relaxed and ate away at tension in muscles I can't ice very well and the nerves in the back of my head and neck were not spazzing afterward.

I originally didn't think it did anything. I walked out, kindly thanked the guy, and drove home.

I showered for real, at home, and as I was getting ready for bed, this WAVE of relaxation came over me. Like I could have sat on the ground, right there and fallen asleep. That is not normal for me.

I slept for eight full hours that night. Like a baby. And woke up with my trap muscle tension significantly reduced, as well as other areas that I had tension in.

I went back for a 30 min session the following week and that was glorious. The fear of the "tiny/not so tiny" POD and claustrophobia was gone. The unknown wasn't looming over me. I wasn't afraid to drown. I didn't care about the light or the music. I jumped in and knew it was going to pay dividends.

The 30 min session is probably the perfect reset and it's only $30 during the week. BEST deal for your money, time and body.

I also did another hour float and I must say that the evening floats are a game changer. I can't keep my eyes opened afterward and find myself letting go of the days work stresses and life stresses very easily.

Not that water and salt can do that. But it is important to rest and sometimes our homes don't foster that type of experience. Or, you do need to use this treatment for a more medical approach, which is why I will do it another time or two. I like to challenge myself and to focus on healing as naturally as possible. Even if it takes a bit longer.

So, here's hoping that you all get to try, at least, a 30 min float at a place near you.

Happy Resting.
Happy Sleeping.
Happy soon to be Thanksgiving!

p.s. A gift card to a place like this for the person in your family who is cooking Thanksgiving dinner would be spot on!

p.p.s. Ladies, don't shave before you go. It's like shaving before you get into the ocean. Not good. I repeat, not good.

#hugsomeone
#floatspot
#relaxation

~smile~

Week 10: Minnesota Vikings vs. Dallas Cowboys ~ Dallas Mavs ~ LSU beat Bama

2019-11-09T22:33:00.003-06:00

GO COWBOYS!!! 5-3 (wins-losses)
Minnesota Vikings vs. Dallas Cowboys (away vs. home)
Sunday, November 10th @ 7:20 PM CST

We won last week vs. the Giants. It wasn't pretty, but we'll take it.

The main thing people were super excited about was Sean Lee playing for Vander Esch and having a great game! (and injury free)

Who is Sean Lee? Our veteran Linebacker, #50, who has suffered from multiple injuries over the years and is now a mentor/back-up to the young Vander Esch, Smith, Awuzie and the entire LB (Linebacker) corp. And when his time came to play, he did! Last week he had 12 total tackles, 9 solo and 3 assisted. Think of him as the defensive version of Jason Witten.

What to expect this week vs. the Vikings...

Our Defense will represent, and Sean Lee will be at the helm.

The Vikings QB is Kirk Cousins. He seems like a really nice guy and came under fire after the Vikings lost in Week 2 vs. the Packers and Week 4 vs. the Bears. So, he decided to help is team defeat the Giants, Eagles, Lions and Redskins. Their win streak ended last week in a 26-23 loss to the Chiefs. Cousins still played well, but the Chiefs Tyreek Hill had 140 yards and 1 TD. They couldn't stop the run game.

Running...

I think we know a guy on the Cowboy who can do that. Zeke. I say he rushes for over 100 yards. And that's exactly what the Vikings will try to do to us too. Dalvin Cook is their start RB. Zeke may be the highest paid RB in the league, but Cook his ranked first in rushing yards and second in rushing TD's in the NFL.

What shall we hope for then, that our Defense does this thing called a pass rush... gets pressure on Cousins, forces maybe his second interception since their win streak began, and we get the W. Oh and while pressuring Cousins, we can't let Cook run all over us.

Dak, our QB, will throw two TD's and one will go to Cobb. Cobb has been pretty irrelevant the past few weeks. It's time he does something big! Cooper and Gallup have battled knee injuries, but should play Sunday.

Final question: Zeke trails Cook by 153 yards and 4 TD's on the season. How many yards and TD's will Zeke get Sunday night? How many will Cook get?

I don't really care as long as we get the Win!

GO COWBOYS!

Vikings 21 ~ Cowboys 31

Checkout the Cowboys full schedule.

#dallascowboys
#cowboysnation

GO MAVS!!! 6-3 (wins ~ losses)

We're only 9 games into the season and Luka ranks sixth in the NBA in average points per game, 28.1, and second in assists, 9.3.

Porzingis has stepped it up, averaging 20.1 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game. We need more of this.

All in all, Doncic makes all of these guys look good, especially Powell! #alleyoop

via @ESPN

#MFFL
#GOMAVS

Random Info...
All I have to say is LSU beat Bama.

Read it and weep with joy.

And does anybody else hear, Joe Burrow, and think of the QB in the movie Draft Day? Bo Callahan? I have no clue why, but every time I hear Joe Burrow - I flash to the, not so great QB (opposite of Joe), in the Draft Day movie, and have to remind myself that Joe doesn't equal Bo and Burrow after Joe doesn't equal Bo. So where does this association in my brain come from? No clue. You're welcome. You will never get that moment of time back.

#hugsomeone
#LSUbeatBAMA
#joeburrow
#draftday

~smile~

Week 9: Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants ~ Dallas Mavs and Luka ~ Daylight Savings Time

2019-11-02T22:44:00.000-05:00

GO COWBOYS!!! 4-3 (wins-losses)
Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants (away vs. home)
Monday, November 4th @ 7:15 PM CST

Bye, bye, bye.

The Bye week is over. And we wake-up to Week 9 in the NFL.

What happened since we last played a game?

~ Baker Mayfield is still yapping his mouth and acting foolish.
~ We missed getting Adams from the Jets, but we did pick up Bennett from the Patriots. Not the Tight End, but the brother, who is a Defensive Tackle.
~ Vander Esch is still injured and is day-by-day.
~ The 49ers are still undefeated, with the Patriots old back-up QB as their starting QB. Annoying.
~ The Patriots Defense has gotten me 185 points in Fantasy Football, I'll take it.
~ The Washington Nationals won the World Series!!! They started their season 19-31 (wins-losses) and made it all the way. The only team in any professional sport to win all 4 games on the road. Life Lesson: don't give up! Contracts to them!!

Do you know who is still on the list of teams who do not have a title? (tear)
The Rangers.

The New York Giants, round 2.

We destroyed the Giants in Week 1, 17-35. So, what will be different in Week 9 vs. Week 1?

1. We played Eli Manning in Week 1. The Giants now have their rookie, Daniel Jones, at QB. He's not afraid to go after the Defense and there isn't a lot of tape on him this year. He can throw and run, but having Michael Bennett will be helpful! Our Defense will need to stay one step ahead.

2. We're playing in NYC as opposed to Dallas.

3. We're playing on MNF (Monday Night Football), which is a big deal and these NFL players don't like to lose in front of that large of an audience.

4. Zeke has gotten Cabo out of his system and looks like he's ready to have a 100+ yard game.

5. Everyone on the Cowboys team should be rested after their week off.

Now, my Dad and I went to an event, during the BYE week, for Arms of Hope. It's a wonderful organization that helps single moms and families have a home to live in, food, place to get work and get back on their feet. Tears hearing the stories of the difficulty some of these women and children have gone through in their lives. But who was there to cheer them up? Jaylon Smith and Darren Woodson. It was supposed to be Vander Esch, but with his neck injury, it provided the opportunity for Woodson to be there, which was awesome. He gave Smith a hard time about how different the game was in the 90's and how important it is to stay focused on life after the game too. Here are a few photos. I highly encourage you to checkout Arms of Hope. Maybe it could be helpful for you or a friend of yours? Or would be a great place to donate to or volunteer at. We're all in this life together. None should ever be alone!!

Should we win this week? Of course. Will we? Yes, but not by much.

GO COWBOYS!

Cowboys 28 ~ Giants 21

Checkout the Cowboys full schedule.

#dallascowboys
#cowboysnation

GO MAVS!!! 3-2 (wins ~ losses)

Luka!!!!!!

That's all. All season long, you're going to hear that name.

The season started a couple of weeks ago and we're already in Luka highlight mode.

Here are a few clips from his game vs. the Lakers, aka, LeBron James.

We ALMOST won in OT (overtime). We'll get them next time.

He did have to have stitches in his head, but he will be fine. They had Saturday off, so hopefully that helped?

Also, if you missed it, Dirk had a street named after him. This guy doesn't ever need to leave Dallas. We love him here and will always be thankful to him for helping bring a Championship here. (Yo, Rangers, any day now... I hear Gerrit Cole is a free agent).

via @ESPN

#MFFL
#GOMAVS

Random Info...
Remember to set your clocks back an hour!

Yay! More sleep!

For those of you with children and animals, good luck. Getting them on a new schedule does not look fun. Maybe having them watch this .gif will help?

#hugsomeone
#yougetanhourandyougetanhour
#fallback
#daylightsavings

~smile~

Week 7: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys ~ BYE Week ~ Career Goals ~ Ryder Cup

2019-10-19T23:02:00.002-05:00

GO COWBOYS!!! 3-3 (wins-losses)
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys (away vs. home)
Sunday, October 20th @ 7:20 PM CST

Week 1, Won by 18 points to the Giants, at home.
Week 2, Won by 10 points to the Redskins, in Washington.
Week 3, Won by 25 points to the Dolphins, at home.
Week 4, Lost by 2 points to the Saints, in New Orleans.
Week 5, Lost by 10 points to the Packers, at home.
Week 6, Lost by 2 points to the Jets, in New York.
(Romo called last weeks game)

Week 7 is a MUST win vs. the Eagles.

Whichever team wins this game will be 1st place in the NFC East.

The Eagles had an ugly 18 point loss to the Vikings last week, but won their two previous games vs. the Packers* and Jets**. Two teams we lost to.

*Green Bay has had a lot of penalty calls go their way. Just sayin'.

**We played the Jets with Sam Darnold and lost. The Eagles played their back-up QB and won.

This weeks match-up vs. our Division Rival, and least favorite team EVER...

1. The Eagles Defensive line will probably be able to slow down our run game. Zeke hasn't been as explosive as we all thought he would be this year. Not all his fault, but I think we'd all like to see more from him, even if that means better play calling to get him in the mix against great D-Lines. We also have a few injuries on our O-Line. Less than ideal. But, we can exploit their Secondary (guys who cover the WR's and TE's). Cooper and Gallup need to get after it and get open!

2. Dak's season CMP% (completion rating) in the 1st Quarter is 59.6%. His CMP% in the 3rd Quarter is 86.3%. Looks like we have a QB (quarterback) who is highly motivated from half-time speeches! Not only does his CMP% go up, but it is the only Quarter that he doesn't have an interception. He has double the amount of AVG (Average Yards per Pass Attempt) in the 3rd Quarter, than any other Quarter, and his RTG (passer rating) is 144.9 (47 points higher than the 2nd Quarter). What do all of these stats mean? By the 3rd Quarter, we'll know if we're going to win this game!

3. DeMarcus Lawrence (our DE, Defensive End) had some words for the Eagles head coach, who claimed that they WILL beat the Cowboys this week. According to this article, the last time Lawrence was probed to talk and defend his team was last year when we beat the Saints, in New Orleans. A little, healthy trash talk is good to rally the troops. Our Defense needs a revival! Someone needs to remind them that they CAN play and they aren't as horrible as they've looked! This is the week to take advantage of a weaker O-Line for the Eagles and put pressure on Carson Wentz (the Eagles QB).

Dallas Injury Report for our O-Line:
La'el Collins, OT (Offensive Tackle)
Zac Martin, G (Guard)

Eagles Injury Report:
DeSean Jackson, WR (Wide Receiver)
Jason Peters, OT (Offensive Tackle)

Can we win? Yes. Will we win. I have NO clue. Last week was exhausting and both of these teams need a W this week. But, I'm always hopeful. I have been since 1995.

GO COWBOYS!

Eagles 13 ~ Cowboys 17

Next week is our BYE Week. The week where everyone gets to rest and get ready for the rest of the season.

The Cowboys will play 9 more games after the BYE week, which we all hope are better than the last three.

All I can say is, I have new career goals after being a Cowboys fan for the past few years.

1. Work for a boss that believes in you as much as Jerry believes in Garrett.

2. Sign the big contract before the season starts (not that I'm signing contracts, but you know, I'll find somewhere to apply this).

3. Retire, like Romo, and play golf for a living (but become a millionaire first).

Checkout the Cowboys full schedule.

#dallascowboys
#cowboysnation

Random Info...
Y'all. I did the whole Ryder Cup thing.

Signed up for a chance to get tickets a year ago.

Got the code to purchase tickets last week.

Waited in line all morning to get into the site to buy the tickets.

Call my Dad.

Get into the site to purchase tickets. Yay!

Had them in my cart.

Site Error.

It wouldn't process my order.

BUT.

After a few screenshots and emails to their customer support team, whom I am sure were overwhelmed that day. I finally got to purchase our tickets!! Woohoo!

It seemed like an IT nightmare for the PGA, and as someone who works on websites, I know their pain. It is not fun!

However, I am glad they were able to fix it, and hopefully there were a lot of happy people out there when they got their "complete your order" email yesterday!

Hopefully our guys play way better than they did in France last year. We need a victory!

#hugsomeone
#rydercup
#pgaofamerica
#golflife

~smile~

Week 6: Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Jets ~ Texas vs. OU Weekend ~ State Fair of Texas

2019-10-10T22:50:00.000-05:00

GO COWBOYS!!! 3-2 (wins-losses)
Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Jets (away vs. home)
Sunday, October 13th @ 3:25 PM CST

We started the season with three wins and now have back-to-back losses.

This is not fun. Not only did we lose to the Saints and the Packers, but the Eagles beat the Packers and then destroyed the Jets last week.

We CANNOT lose to the Jets! We may not win them all, but if we lose, we give up first place in our division to the Eagles. Not happening.

We're favored by a TD (6 points for the TD, and 1 extra point after the TD = 7 points). Does anyone feel favored? Did any of you Cowboys fans enjoy watching us get destroyed at home by the Packers? Only if Aaron Rogers was your Fantasy Football QB (JK - he only got me 9 points)! Their running back, the other Aaron (Jones), did the damage. That kid had 4 TD's (yes, four touchdowns) on 19 carries for 107 yards. Ugh. They were missing their top WR (Wide Receiver), and we couldn't stop their run game.

(tears) (cry face)

Moving on.

Is Jason Garrett's job in jeopardy? Is Dak still going to get paid? Is Kellen Moore stuck in his Boise State days?

I don't care. Figure it out. All of those guys are paid more than enough money to get the job done.

New York Jets... this Sunday... in NYC.

The name you'll know... Sam Darnold, the 2018 draft pick, from USC, by the NY Jets. Their starting QB, until he was diagnosed with mono this season. He participated in a handful of practices this past week and will be starting Sunday vs. the Cowboys. Luke Falk is their back-up QB, who has thrown zero TD's, 3 INT's and has a QBR of 62.4, 43rd in the league, will not be someone the Jets want to put back into the game. They will ride the Darnold train as much as they can Sunday. Falk needs more time to develop, he's only 24, which is two years older than Darnold.

Speaking of Darnold, he believes he's healed up and ready to play, but I can't help and imagine they will rely heavily on Le'Veon Bell, their running back (RB). Bell's only rushed for 206 yards this season, on 14 less carries than Zeke and no TD's. However, with the way that Green Bay ran all over our Defense, I'm sure they watched that tape and got a few pointers! It will be easier for our D to shut down Bell and the Jets Offense, but it won't be a cakewalk.

The Boys...

We have quite a few injuries... but a few guys are back. Gallup (our WR) needs to get back in the action. Cooper needs to get a couple of TD's this week. He had too many yards last week (226 yards on 11 receptions and one TD) to not have been more productive! Get the man the ball!

And Witten, that fumble wasn't your fault. We still love you #82!

Dak. Please don't throw any interceptions this week. That would be lovely, thank you!

Zeke. Are you ready to play? We missed you in training camp, so I hope you're pre-season is over?

Can we win? Of course. We could have won the past two games. Will we? Sadly, yes (to another losing team). The Jets just aren't that good, yet, and we will be able to capitalize. **If we don't win, I'm done with football**

GO COWBOYS!

Cowboys 21 ~ Jets 7

Checkout the Cowboys full schedule.

#dallascowboys
#cowboysnation
#undefeated

Random Info...
It's Texas vs. OU weekend in Dallas this weekend. (College Football)

This will actually be a good match-up this year! Both of these teams are in the Top 25. UT is ranked 11th and OU is ranked 6th.

Here's a breakdown of the game that will be played, Saturday, October 12th at 11 AM CST.

The one way that both sets of fans will win here, is if they also visit the State Fair of Texas, and get a Fletchers Corny Dog! Now, I had to go GF a few years ago (not thrilled), but I feel a lot better and eating more paleoish has it's advantages. However, a Fletchers Corny Dog means all rules are thrown out the window... once a year, it's totally worth it!

photo by Steven Doyle

**Caution ~ Traffic will be horrible in Dallas and in surrounding cities.
1. Be patient while driving.
2. Please do NOT drink and drive.
3. Going faster on Dallas highways is actually safer.
4. Turn on your GPS before you put the car in drive.
5. Use of blinkers is highly encouraged.
6. NO texting and driving. Call people, it's good to hear a voice sometimes.
7. Yes, everything is a tollroad now. I don't know why. I'm sorry.
8. On and Exit ramps are not made for 20 mph speeds... we need you to hold at 45+mph to help us locals make it through the weekend.
Thank you!**

#hugsomeone
#txvsou
#texasvsou
#statefairoftexas
#fletcherscorndog
Twitter @fletchersDogs

~smile~