My Year in Fantasy Football

This commercial pretty much sums up how my Fantasy Football team did this year.

All is well in Breast land

The wait is finally over. I had the mammogram today and it turns out that one of the lympnods in my armpit decided to take road trip to my breast. It will just stay there now and I only have to go back if it changes size or shape.

I want to thank you all for you positive thoughts and prayers.

Jessica

Twas the night before mammogram

'Twas the night before Mammogram, when all through the house

Not a child was stirring, not even a dog;

The keys were hung by the door with care,

In hopes that morning soon would be there;

The women were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of healthy breast danced in their heads,

Twas the night before Mammogram and she is nervous.

Hanging out

Well I am enjoying this cold Sunday with my parents, the kids and all of the dogs. The kids were up earlier and we all went for a walk with Jesse. Jesse did great job on the walk. She has this new Gentle Lead collar. The collar does not let her pull on the leash when we are walking. The first day we got it we went on a hike and she responded great to it.

Today we brought Jesse to my parents house to be social with their dogs. They have two dogs, a medium sizes mutt and a wiener dog. (And they have three cats) She did great when we got there. All the dogs sniffed each other for awhile and Jesse even responded well to the cats.

We thought it would be a great idea to do this that way if we go out of town we have someone to watch the dog without them having to go up to our house. Jesse gets a little nervous sometimes and then she poops everywhere.

And now we are watching football. Go Rams! (Go Cowboys from Kathy)

I feel a lump in my breast, now what?

I asked myself this question just this past Friday.

"I feel a lump in my breast, now what?"

I am only 24 years old, I have a 2 years old son, a stepdaughter and a loving wife, what is this? The first thing I did what ask my wife to feel and make sure that I wasn't feeling things. Sure enough she feels something too. Now the panic sets in. I keep feeling it everyday to see if it went away, it didn't. Then I start to notice that my left breast feels bigger and it is sagging on one side. So my first day at work (I work at a doctors office) I make an appt to have an exam. The doctor also feels it and doesn't look like it is anything good.

The first she thing says is "You need to get a mammogram done."

Then I said "What do you think it is? Because I have had an infected Milk Duct before, but it didn't really feel like this."

She said "Welll its not and infected milk duct, and you have a family history of Breast Cancer so I think the next step is to get a mammogram and and then we will go from there."

I think to myself, I am only 24 years old could this really be happening?

And now I wait. That is what this game is hurry up and wait. And now I worry and wait for my mammogram on Monday. While I am waiting, I can't help but want to spend even more time with my family especially my son. To every woman out there, do your self-exams and get your yearly exams, don't put it off because it can only do good.

For more information please go to www.komen.org.

The Laramie Project

Last night Jess and I went to see a community college production of "The Laramie Project." This is a play based on the Matthew Shepard story.

Matthew Shepard

For those that don't know Matthew was killed 10 years ago in Laramie, Wyoming for being gay. Unfortunately the things the play speaks about still happen much too often today. Just a few days ago a man was shot in Syracuse, NY while sitting in his car. The reason given by his shooter - was because he didn't like gay people. You can read more on the story here.

One thing that happens in the play is the Westboro Baptist Church, led by Fred Phelps, comes to protest the trial of one of Matt's killers. You will love the name of their website godhatesfags.com . If you go to their "church" website be prepared. The signs they hold at their protests are hateful. What I find most frightening is they bring their children and have them holding these signs and spewing this same hate.

Well Mr. Phelps decided to come and protest the play here in Arizona. The community did a call to action and we had over 300 gay, lesbian, transgender, and straight people there to counter protest. It was beautiful. Everyone wearing red and protecting the sidewalks so people felt safe to go to the show. In from of the theater everyone had giant angel wings on, just like they did at the court house, to block the sight of Phelps' hateful signs. Phelps' supporters did come - all 10 of them. However, they stayed so far away no one knew they were on the campus. Not being able to get near the parking lots, walkways, or theater they were pretty much shut down. The community college sold out the performance that night and got a standing ovation. A few of the actors were so overwhelmed by the crowd (80 had been the most to attend) and the ovation they broke down right on stage. I imagine some of those young people were gay and to see the support from their own community was just too much. There wasn't a dry eye in the place. An email received today from the technical director of the play commented on the irony "Our show sold out, THANKS WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH, we made a lot of
money off of your CRAZY ASSES!"

The video gives just a small part of the play. It's an important part if you don't know Matt's story. I encourage you to take a few minutes and watch it. If you haven't seen the whole play I encourage you to keep your eyes open for a local production. Also there is an HBO version that was made. Unfortunately, the story still speaks to what is happening now. 10 years after Matt's murder hate crimes law for LGBT people still has not gotten passed. It made it through Congress this year but President Bush vetoed it. He clearly doesn't know Judy Shepard. I have had the opportunity to meet and speak with her a few times. She is an amazing woman that has taken on this fight to protect the rest of us even though her son is gone. Everytime I see her I just want to say "I'm sorry we haven't gotten this done for you." 10 years is a long time to fight and tell about the death of your child over and over. Her speech to Congress and her being at the door when they walked into vote is what got the job done. I wish she could have been in the oval office. I'm not sure even George Bush would have vetoed the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill (yes that was the name of the piece of legislation) with her standing right there.

Kath & Jess with Judy Shepard

HRC Dinner 2006

Halloween '08

We had a fun time for Halloween. I had the day off and Jess was able to get off early so we got Ian all dressed up and off we went around the neighborhood.

There was a neighborhood party happening. So Ian and I went in the bouncy.

 

  

Then with a kiss from Mom Mom (Jess) it was off to trick-or-treat

 

 

 

Great Obama '08 Pumpkin! It's not even ours :)

Maddie was with Jen but made an appearance so we could see her Gabriel out fit from High School Musical

 

Jess dressed up as well but mysteriously we don't have any pictures of that....hmmm a new conspiracy theory is born!