NBA Playoffs! I know that, just like the NCAA playoffs, there has to be a quick way to narrow things down and get to THE final game...Eastern Conf. against Western Conference. So, #1 is pitted against #8, #2 against #7, #3 against #6, and the only two teams most closely matched is #4 against #5.

The Pistons are up 2-0 against Orlando Magic. Big deal! Pistons are #1 seed...so that means Magic is #8. Cavs are up 2-0 against Wizards. Cavs are #2, Wizards are #7. BUT, the Cavs should have more game than they are showin'. I am glad they are winning BUT...LeBron, are you saving yourself? And if you guys don't REBOUND better than you are...you can kiss the next series down for the count. R-E-B-O-U-N-D.

The one that is the biggest surprise in the East is that the Bulls (#5) is burying the Heat (#4) becuz the Heat has been touted as being so very on top of their game with Dwayne Wade and Shaq. Shaq has shown that he can STILL move that overstuffed duffle bag of a body. Apparently not good enuff. I will be breathing easier, tho, to see Heat knocked out.

In the western conference the Nuggets are tied with the Spurs. I would LOVE to see the Nuggets get sent packing...nothing against the team, I just despise Carmello Anthony and Allen Iverson.

Phoenix Suns lead the series 2-0 over the Lakers (Kobi, wanna tissue? Save your show for the hotel hotties). The Suns should be on top of that. They are the #2 seed.

What I would LOVE to know is HOW the HECK the perfect Dallas Mavs got so terribly beaten and left for dead by the Golden State Warriors in the first game? Mavs-#1 seed; Warriors-#8 seed! The Mavs didn't let it happen again. But, come ON. It should have been a shear tip toe through the tulips. It actually is nice that the Mavs held back and let the Warriors have one.

I think I know what I am going to be doing with some of my alone weekend time...watchin' the Playoffs. I can holla at the TV all I want!

Btw...I REALLY could use my own personal masseuse. That back outage that I had two weeks ago that reduced me to a screaming/crying/immovable lump...it's working it's way back to that place again. My shoulder blade is locked up and I have had a raging migraine all day. I have tried the ice, the heat, the vibrator pad (notice the word 'pad' after 'vibrator'! )
I guess I do need a day at the spa. A friend called me tonight and I told them about the pain. Right away I get, "What happened? What got you anxed up?" I was in a pretty good mood when I woke up! I woke up early! I really don't think there was anything...the friend said, "The last time this happened, as I recall, you had a whole lot of things getting you anxed up and the next thing you know you are frozen up in that pain!" All I know is this...I am going to take another one of those partial Dr. prescribed pill thingies that will knock me out faster than Mike Tyson. And when I open my eyes, the muscles will be relaxed, the headache will be gone, and I will be able to open my mouth again (I hate to break THAT news to my kids! ). Oh, yeah...didn't I mention that? My jaw tightens up and I can hardly open my mouth. It's great for a diet!

And when I wake up I will know all the winning numbers for the Mega Millions lottery!

This is a two parter.

I) I made my kids a REAL dinner tonight. Not like I don't do that often but they have had fast food for two nights in a row now. Monday nights are out of necessity. Tuesday night was just...cuz. Tonight I made them roast chicken with all the great stuff that goes with a chicken dinner. I did that becuz this single dad that I know did that for himself and his son last night.

I know quite a few single fathers. I was thinking about that tonight. Their wives walked off and left them with the kids...although, they wanted the kids...except for one. He would have liked to be free but it isn't like he doesn't love his son.

These guys have struggled just as hard, or harder, than the single moms I know. My hat's off to them. It ain't easy.

II) I heard a line on a show that said "you are so busy running away from life that you don't see what God has in mind for you." Then it struck me. There are so many ppl complaining and feeling badly about what life has dealt them, there is too much noise to hear what God is trying to tell them. They are too busy reliving their past that they can't see their future.

Things happen. Life happens. We don't always know why. But pay attention...find a quiet spot...listen. Wait patiently. Good things come to those who wait.

My mother can't understand why she has had to go through so many physical problems in the past few years...and now the recurring cancer. But...she said to me that she is sure God has a reason and she will know it soon enuff...one way or the other.

Junebug has left and I am very sad. I understand her life and what all is going on. I also understand how sometimes we have to make that choice. If something is causing you to feel badly, and is no longer bringing you joy, you have to make choices.

Biggie T left an exit song. Life changes so fast.

Life is that way. There is so very much going on around us all the time. I know that I have alot to tend to...alot that begs for my attention. This started out to be a fun journey. Sometimes it has not been so fun. Sometimes I have caused my own anxieties here. Sometimes there have been problems becuz others are being paranoid.

When problems arise, even if you try to side step them, others have a way of trying their best to include you. I have chosen not to visit and read/comment on blogs so much becuz I am afraid of what I might read/see. So, I concentrate on my life and then I get accused of ignoring ppl becuz I don't comment so I must be mad at them.

To that...all I can say is...get over it. I love my blogstream...I really enjoy the ppl. But, you know, ppl only have just so much time in the day...and I put my family and my concrete-immediate world first. I have finally set some goals, again, and I'm working at them. I have a purpose and I will reach the finish line. If it means not being here on the stream much, then it is what will have to happen.

I wish Junebug and Biggie T all the happiness in the world.

It started out as a lovely weekend. The sun...the warm...and the daddy got all the back porch furniture out and assembled, cleaned off...he even washed the off the outside of the back windows for me! I took the kids and went to visit my youngest sister and my nieces for the afternoon. I had made potato salad in anticipation of the return home. He started up the charcoal grill...I had left some hamburg as a HINT. So he grilled up some hamburgers. I made a run to the liquor store and loaded up for the summer...pina colada fixin's and margarita stuff...and my whiskey. So on those wonderful warm summer evenings I can sit on my swing on the back porch and sip some wonderful refreshment.

The daddy went and played golf Sunday. I had taken a part of sleep aid from the doctor...I was really tired Saturday night. Have been for many nights. But can never sleep. So, I gave in and took the thing. 15 minutes later I was totally GONE! You know how it is when you are about to go into surgery and they shoot that stuff into your IV and you drop...and when you open your eyes it seems like a second later? That's how it was with that sleeping pill! I woke up just in time for the Cavs Playoff game. Then I got some time on the swing...with my class book taking notes for tonight's test.

However, the daddy came back all sunburned and with a whole lovely demeanor. You know those times when someone gets mad at you when you don't say anything and when you do say something, they get mad? That was basically it. He was looking for an argument and no matter how I tried to side step it...BAM! I quit.

I took him to the airport this morning. It was a lovely trip. Me gritting my teeth...him yelling all the way. THEN he says "So now you aren't going to talk to me?" I said in the calmest voice you have ever heard, "I was waiting for you to quit." And even at that, how do I respond?

Took TJ to the physical therapist, then got home in time to take my daughter to her doctor for med check up...BOUGHT food, ate, studied...loaded them in the van to drop them off at their appointed places so I could go to class. I got out of class early to pick them up only to find out my son had had an anxiety melt down in the middle of Driver's Ed class. I was working on a team project but made sure I got my portion of the project worked out before I left (I am the researcher so I have to make sure I get it done in the morning). And there was my son upset becuz he had had a major anxiety attack...and he can't figure out why. So...he's on the right meds, just not enuff, yet.

Picked him up, got home just as my daughter was getting home from GS. Helped TJ finish up his lab assignment and got it faxed to his teacher...

I have some good news for ME...out of all of this. Friday night, Saturday, Saturday night, part of Sunday...I am going to be ALONE!!!!
All alone. The daddy is collecting his son and going up to NE Ohio for a guys' weekend for the NFL draft business...cards and pool for the daddy and plenty of mischief for TJ and his cousin Kevin. Bethany is leaving for GS camp for the weekend. ALONE! NOBODY!

OMG!!! WHAT DO I DO WITH THAT???????!!!!!!