Who's Next?!

That's it, I am officially ticked off! First we trade Moss (goodbye you big headache), then we trade Garnett (the face of the franchise is now gone), then we let Hunter leave via free agency (who can blame him for taking the money and running), and now we trade Santana (the best pitcher ever) - are there any more superstars left?! Will we end up trading Mauer, Morneau, and Gaborik too?!

I understand that sports is no longer a game, and that it changed into a business quite some time ago, but come on! If the Twins can manage to get the taxpayers to foot the bill on a new stadium, then they could at least attempt to keep their talented players around for the next few years so we can see them play in the shiny new ballpark. It's about time Carl "I'm too old to own a baseball team, and my kids don't care" Pohlad opens up his immense wallet and gives some of that darn money back to the state of Minnesota!

Oh well, at least Favre might be playing another season or two...

Friday Ramblings

"If love were a whisper,
what would I give you to speak?"
- Matchbox Twenty, 'Can't Let You Go'

Here I sit at work on a Friday afternoon, listening to some tunes while I work ahead on next week's Target web pages. This week has been a very busy and draining one for me. I've been in class quite a bit, including all day tomorrow, and my brain has had a hard time shutting down each evening, making it difficult for me to get some sleep. Let's just say that I feel a little punch-drunk today. At least I have some good music to play "air drums" to (who said Abs is the only hidden-rocker in the group)!

A Very Busy Stretch

I apologize for the lack of posting lately, but things have gotten rather busy for me with school. Last Friday morning was my first practicum/observation experience at DeLaSalle High. I enjoyed my time there, but it went by too quickly. Because I have to work full-time to make ends meet, I can only observe for 2 hours a week, which will make the required 50 hours of observation take that much longer to complete.

On Saturday, I spent the day working on two presentations for class, one an individual presentation and the other a group project. It took more time for me to do the research than it did to write the presentations. At least I was able to spend Saturday night relaxing with Dan, Eric, and Lisa, and resting my brain. I spent all day yesterday (Sunday) in class, soaking up as much information about child development as I could possibly squeeze into my overly-saturated brain!

I have tonight off to do some things around the house before my next class on Tuesday evening, followed by my first practicum supervision class on Wednesday night. All that is followed by class on Saturday, and probably spending Sunday doing more homework.

When this busy stretch is all said and done, I will need a mini-vacation from school, from work, and maybe from reality!

Update

I got a voicemail message from my aunt last night while I was in class, letting me know that the results of my cousin Monty's spinal tap came back, showing that the cancer had not spread to his spinal cord. She was happy that it wasn't as bad as it could have been. He still is only being given 9-12 months, but that is better than the feared 3 months.

I'm hoping to get a chance to visit with him when he comes home from the hospital soon, maybe sometime in the next week or so.

My Cousin Monty

I realize that the title of this post might sound a lot like the classic movie "My Cousin Vinny," but believe me when I tell you that this post has nothing to do with Joe Pesci!

I got a call this last Saturday morning from my aunt Susan, who had some bad news to tell me - that my cousin Monty was just diagnosed with Stage 4 small cell cancer. He has cancer in his lungs, kidneys, and lower back, and is waiting to hear the results of it being in his spine.

Monty is someone that I usually only see once a year at Thanksgiving at my aunt and uncle's, but he has meant a lot to me over the years. I used to look up to him, and thought he was one of the "cool" kids that I wanted to be like. His life has been an example of struggles, and learning to overcome some of them.

Growing up, Monty was a very outgoing, popular, athletic kid. He was the first person in my family to get a four-wheeler, and the first person to break some bones when he crashed it and shattered his arm! He also was a really good football player, until he began drinking too much in junior high school, which in turn led to problems with drug abuse. Monty struggled mightily with these addictions, but after going through treatment he managed to conquer them.

I can remember from a very early age looking up to Monty, not only because he was 3 years older than me and quite a bit taller, but because he always made a point of including me in things. My first experience (and thankfully one of my last experiences) with smoking cigarettes was attributed to him. He managed to smuggle some of his dad's cigarettes, and put them in his roll-on deodorant stick for us to partake in later. Once we found a remote place in my grandmother's yard to try them, he took them out of the deodorant stick, handed one to me and my brother, and we lit up. As soon as I lit mine, I was suddenly aware of what it was like to be smoking deodorant - the cigarettes tasted just like the deodorant stick that they were stored in! Let's just say that ever since then, my stomach turns when I am near cigarettes and I instantly flash back to that fateful experience!

Monty was the first person to also spark my interest in rock music, as he introduced me to the Styx and to Huey Lewis and the News - maybe not rock-and-roll hall of fame worthy bands, but it's music that still speaks to me to this day.

I've been thinking a lot about Monty the last few days. Wondering what it must feel like to be only 39 years old, facing a prognosis of 3 to 12 months left on this earth. I know that he is not a Christian, and my heart and mind ache for him and my aunt and uncle, as I've prayed for him to come to know God. Maybe I will be used by God in Monty's life, so I am praying for the right words to say and the confidence to say them if I am presented with the opportunity. If you think of it this week, please say a prayer for Monty, and my aunt Susan and uncle Gale - I cannot imagine the pain they must be dealing with.

I know that our God is a God of miracles, so my prayer for Monty is to be healed, and if not healed, than to come to know the Lord.

Practicum

I am meeting Tuesday afternoon with a school counselor at DeLaSalle High School in downtown Minneapolis to discuss my practicum! I hope to begin observing her in action by the end of the month. I will probably only observe a few hours per week, due to working full-time, but it is very exciting to begin this part of my counseling journey.