Fairly Decent News Day

So after reading my friend Mark's blog, I realized I hadn't been paying much attention to the news. I think subconsciously I was avoiding it because it really has sucked so much. After working yet another long day, I tuned in my XM radio (that love story to be told later) to the news. Of course the first story had to be about Schiavo. 12 days now without her feeding tube, but the real story is Jesse Jackson showed up to pray with the parents. I can't say I'm too surprised, JJ has been hiding out for several months now and this seems like an opportune time to show that ugly head of his. All this talk about human rights and the ability to make a choice by liberals but I ask - Where were you when Elian Gonzalez was carted back to Cuba. You all didn't seem to mind so much when Reno sent a swat team in to take the kid. I love this article comparing Schiavo and Elian.

The next story was about Jerry Falwell. Apparently his health has failed him again and he is in the hospital in fair condition with a form of pneumonia. The weird thing is, I just saw him last Friday when I was visiting my girlfriend's parents in Lynchburg. He was leaving O'Charleys restaurant, which to my understanding is a personal favorite of his. He seemed to look fine to me, except for those devil horns sticking out of his head…..

There was an update on the pope and his inability to eat – boring. Finally, I heard the tragic news that Johnnie Cochran died. He had a brain tumor, which was never disclosed to the public. One of the great celebrity lawyers, he defended the guilty and managed to get them free – Mike Jackson, OJ, Todd Bridges, and P. Diddy Puff and Stuff Sean Combs to name a few. I'd like to see him defend himself at the pearly gates in front of the honorable St. Peter.

Of course there were some more stories, some involving the recent school shooting and Kofi Annan saying "hell no" he won't step down. In all, I think the news is starting to get back to "normal," whatever the hell that really means.

Wow I'm slack

Or is it I'm just so freakin busy lately? March has flown by, and I haven't been able to make any solid posts here. I feel bad, like I'm wasting internet. It's like a gym membership I prepaid for (although this is free), and I look at it every other day and say "Ya know, I really should get back to blogging."

Well, I'd love to say that time is now, but I'm pretty sure it's not. I've been so busy with work and everything else I just haven't had the time (or quality topic) to spend here. So, I guess I could just summarize what has been going on.

Well, first off a got a new position at work. No clue what the title is, however I'm convinced it's something along the lines of "Do Everything MonkeyBoy." I have a "review" this week, although I'm pretty sure I won't get what I want out of it. I hate having a job with no historical data to reference as far as salary. So, for the past couple weeks I've been doing both my old job and my new one. So far I'm only a couple weeks behind (notice how I am a couple weeks behind AND I started this position a couple weeks ago??). I'm reminded (tongue in cheek of course) of the Jodie call:

We like it here, we love it here, we finally found a home.WHAT? A home...A WHAT?
A home away from home HUH!

but I digress....

My very good friend Evan got married, and he did it on one of the holiest days known to man - ACC Tourney weekend. UNC was playing at the same time as the wedding, so I was extremely unhappy about that. The sacrifices you make for friends. He got married in Va Beach and it was really nice. As a G-man, I can say we looked like a bunch of studs. The ceremony was really good, and thankfully nobody spoke up during the "or forever hold your peace" bit. The reception was a blast, and Ashley (my woman) convinced me to get on the dance floor (after several drinks). I managed not to step on her toes too much. Oh, I forgot to mention, I felt like death the entire weekend. I had so many drugs pumped through me.... I was just trying not to sneeze during the vows.

I also joined a rec league basketball team. We had our first game tonight and we won. Can't say I was much help, seeing how I played less than 2 minutes. I did touch the ball twice so I'm sure there is a statistical category for that.

UNC is in the final four, and I'm loving it. I'd really like them to win it all, it's been so long since I had a sports team of my liking to win. They have the team to do it, they just need to stop going on these scoring droughts.

Okay, I think I've babbled long enough. Maybe I'll get some time to put together my predictions for baseball or how to draft a fantasy team (my 2 drafts are this week).

Today I Lost My Friend

It was a year ago today that I had to make one of the toughest decisions in my life. My 13 year old Border Collie, Duff, was diagnosed with lymph sarcoma, a form of cancer that attacks the lymph nodes. Well, unfortunately it was too late for surgery and chemo more than likely wouldn't have helped. I didn't know how much time I had, but I knew it wouldn't be enough. I spent the week waiting on him hand and foot, something I usually did anyway, only this time knowing that there was a special reason. He had everything he wanted, as I spoiled him with cheeseburgers, Dentabones, whatever I knew he liked. I even poured gravy on his food. We went for endless car rides as the week was beautiful, and he enjoyed it very much. I made sure he spent every night with me, as I tried to comfort him. His condition took a turn for the worse over the weekend, and on Sunday morning he wouldn't eat. I sat on the floor and pleaded with him to eat. I called my friend Evan who knew of an at-home vet, who I ended up calling (my vet couldn't be reached). I explained the situation to him, and he agreed that it would be best to put Duff down. We managed to sneak a Valium down his throat, and then we all took turns saying goodbye.

When the vet arrived, I didn't know what to expect (I hadn't even met him before). I was thinking this guy was just going to grab my dog, jam a needle in him, hand me a bill, and take off. We had moved outside (it was a gorgeous day), and he must of spent a half hour just talking to us - I don’t really recall what exactly, I just know he did an excellent job of calming all of us down. After explaining the process to me, he left it up to me when to let the pain end. The Valium was having its affect, so I decided to go through with it. I don't recall what the first shot (or pill) was, but I was told it sometimes made the animals throw up. Well, wouldn't you know it, Duff threw up. He started to wander around, and he finally began to collapse. I moved him to the front yard and let him lay.

The Vet then explained to me that the lethal injection was a barbiturate, and that there really wouldn't be any pain. Unfortunately, because of Duff's condition, it was hard to find a vain. I sat with Duff's head in my lap as the injection went in. Less than a minute later, the pain had ended. A small amount of blood was dripping from his paw, and the Vet actually took the time to carefully bandage him. He then checked for a pulse, which was nowhere to be found. "It's okay now," the vet said softly. I stayed on the ground with him for several minutes. It's really hard to say goodbye to someone who has been by your side for 13 years. The vet told me to get some scissors and clip some hair, something he had done when his dog died. I chose to clip the dreadlock behind his ear and a few stray hairs. The vet carefully lifted Duff up and placed him in his truck. I thanked him for being so nice. I chose to have him cremated, and got a beautiful box made for him.

You can never replace a pet, and I never try. Duff was such a huge part of my life growing up. In a family of all girls, he was the only other male companion. I can still remember picking him out at the SPCA, or when we picked him up and had to wait for him to get another bath because he decided to roll around in some poop. I can remember him chasing me around the house, the first time he jumped up on my bed, how much he loved being a parental figure to our other pets. How he loved going for car rides, or how I would make him dance forever before giving him a treat. I even made a short movie about him in college (If I had the web space I'd host it on here), or how he used to LOVE footballs, or the time he knocked out my 2nd story window screen and jumped on the roof. I can also remember the times I yelled and scolded him, or the times he comforted me in sadness. I have many memories, the good far outweighing the sad.

Yes, it was the toughest day of my life. Today was the day I lost my best friend. I love you and miss you, Duff. I hope you are enjoying an endless Dentabone in the sky.

UNC versus dook: the rematch

Oh man, what a great time I had at this game. As a big fan of college basketball and an even bigger fan of UNC, I can tell you it doesn't get any better than this. Two teams that are without a shadow of doubt the biggest rivalry in college sports (Sorry Meatchicken and luckeyes). Carolina looked to be out of the game with 3 minutes to go, down by 9, but something incredible happened. UNC went on an 11-0 run to finish the game and clinched the ACC Regular Season Championship. Nancy-boy jj was shutout the entire 2nd half, and SheWill was held to 4 rebounds. The crowd stormed the floor and it took a good 10 minutes to clear out to go and cut the nets. The seniors then gave one last speech to the still packed Dean Dome before the place cleared out.

Sean May, what can I say about this man? Does "beast" accurately define him? 26 points and 24 rebounds against dook. What a dominating performance. Carolina played great, but Sean went above and beyond. Right before McCants went out with an intestinal disorder, May has turned into a basketball stud. He been rolling off double doubles left and right, dominating inside the paint. He has put himself in a good position to win the ACC Player of the Year. I'm sure that nancy-boy jj will get it, but May deservers some recognition.

The refs were bad as usual on both sides. It's amazing how I can hear the slap of a hand on a forearm up in the rafters, but a referee not 2 feet away doesn't. Oh well, the good guys won.

Congratulations to a Carolina senior class that has had the wildest rollercoaster rides in UNC basketball ever (or at least going back to the 50's). Jawad, Jackie, and Melvin had a lot of heat placed on them the past few years due to the poor performance of the Heels. Good news though, they were able to step above the adversity and achieve a goal that hadn't been done in 12 years - win the ACC Championship outright. Jackie may have never learned to shoot, but I sure will miss watching him play D.

The best basketball is about to be played over the next month, starting with conference tournaments this weekend and the NCAA the following Thursday. Too bad my slightly retarded friend is getting married this weekend. Seriously, who schedules a wedding on tournament weekend? Which reminds me, I need to make a post about bachelor parties, because we all know it's not really a party unless somebody is fighting over the sheep.

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