Miami Heat? Texas Heat!

Okay, enough about the Miami Heat, Rainey is more concerned about the Texas heat. Summer has arrived and it is hot! In fact, she decided it was too hot for her so she packed her bags with dress up dresses, grabbed her trusty pink poodle and favorite ear muffs and prepared to move "North to the Future" in Alaska. Good luck honey! You might want to save the boots and parka for after your actual arrival in "The Last Frontier."




On the other hand, Emily simply wants to travel across the room. She is in the beginning stages of figuring out how to crawl. That means she can get on her hands and knees and lunge herself forward about six inches at a time. It's not the fastest form of travel, but she seems to enjoy it.

Never a dull moment at my house and I wouldn't have it any other way. That's easy for me to say since I'm gone most of the day and get to come home to hugs and kisses. Stephanie does the grunt work and someday the girls are going to realize how incredibly blessed they are to have a mom like her.

Parenting is not always easy, but you know what they say, if you can't stand the heat...move to Alaska!

Big D Has No D For D-wyane

Insert large sigh here.

So close, yet so far. For those of you who kept the faith even to the end; who held out hope even as Gary Payton held Jet Terry's jersey on his last three point try to tie game 6, my sincerest condolences.

The fact of the matter is the little Mavs couldn't stop Wade, fell in love with and were scorned by the jump shot and sent me into Mourning.

There is no trophy for second place.

Congratulations Miami Heat.

Go Rangers.

Uh-Oh

Yes I was brash. Yes I was bold. Yes I was confident. It's just so difficult to beat a team three times in a row, I thought the Mavs would win last night. And I said so right here on this blog. Now, I made that prediction before I heard about the Stackhouse suspension (which was unbelievably bogus BTW), but I stuck with it even after I knew he was out. And I should have been right. For whatever reason, namely Dwyane Wade, the little Mavericks just couldn't git 'er done. I don't know what to think now, but the NBA got what they wanted, a longer series and more revenue opportunities.

Then there was the Mickelson meltdown. That too was hard to watch. Even he doesn't know what he was thinking on 18. His analysis of his performance? "I'm an idiot."

Here's the good news. I was able to watch a lot of golf and basketball yesterday because my beautiful wife and daughters treated me like a king for Father's Day. When it came to picking a wife I was certainly not an idiot and my record with having great kids is 2-0.

Hope you had a good Father's Day too. Go Mavs. Please.

Don't Panic

Okay, okay, so Miami has taken two at home. Everything is going to be alright. Yes, it was excruciating to watch Dirk miss shot after shot last night, but everyone has an off night once in awhile and Dirk doesn't have very many. So I figure this one is out of the way now.

Mark my words: The Mavs win game 5 and then come home and win the series.

Don't panic.

MFFL - Literally

I've lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth Texas area for most of my life. In my 36 years I have seen some incredible sports teams (Cowboys numerous Super Bowls, Stars Stanley Cup) and some laughable ones (Cowboys 1-15 season, Mavericks 11 win season, Rangers...well, almost every year). But nothing tops this years Mavericks run for me and I'll tell you why.

The Cowboys were winning Super Bowls before I was old enough to remember. The Stars didn't arrive in town until I was an adult. The Rangers, well God bless 'em! But it was a pretty exciting day 26 years ago for this 10 year old boy when Dallas (that's the city east of Fort Worth) started an NBA franchise.

I participated in Mavs contests, attended games and stayed up late many a night to watch them play the Lakers on TV.

I booed Kiki Vandeweghe, was frustrated by Norm Sonju and suffered through the inept coaching of John McLeod, Richie Adubato, Quinn Buckner and Jim Cleamons.

I tipped my hat to Donald Carter, tried to figure out Dick Motta and cursed Ross Perot, Jr.

I pretended I was Jim Spanarkel, Tom LaGarde, Rolando Blackman, Mark Aguirre, Sam Perkins, Brad Davis, Jay Vincent, Dale Ellis and Derek Harper.

I've seen more foreign players over the years than I would watching an entire season in Europe.

I watched the three J's (Jim Jackson, Jamal Mashburn and Jason Kidd) fail.

I laughed at Popeye Jones and Oliver Miller; cried tears of frustration over Roy Tarpley.

I wondered why God made Shawn Bradley 7'6" and didn't even make me 6'6".

I appreciated Michael Finley, marveled at Steve Nash and fell in love with a big German kid named Dirk Nowitzki.

And that's why, for my money, should the little Mavericks go on to win the NBA Championship this year, it will be the greatest championship to come to this area ever. Because I'm an MFFL (Mavs Fan For Life) - Literally.

Thanks Mark. Thanks Avery.

Rave On

I've been on vacation for the last 7 days enjoying time at the lake with my family and a lot of time to read, rest and be quiet and listen. One thing that brings me pleasure is staying up late at night when I know I can sleep in the next morning. After everyone else is in bed I can read without interruption or watch whatever I want on television.

A couple of nights ago I caught a documentary called Better Living Through Circuitry. It was shot in 2000 and delved into the underground culture of Raves. If you don't know what a Rave is, stop reading now because I'm not qualified to explain it. If you do have an idea about Raves, listen to what the Ravers said they find there and see if it sounds like something you might enjoy.

Ravers said they found unconditional acceptance, life changing love and peace in the Rave culture. One young man said he went from gang banger to loving friend because of what he experienced at Raves. Some Ravers dressed as children with pacifiers and back packs full of toys and talked about wanting to hold onto child-like qualities of freedom and imagination. Most mentioned the joy of being in a non-judgmental atmosphere where no one was made fun of because of how they dressed or how they danced.

I know there is some drug use at Raves and I'm not saying I want to join that community, but I sure would like for my community to take on some of those qualities. I would love for Jesus followers today to be described with words like, "unconditional acceptance, life changing love and peace", "child-like qualities of freedom and imagination" and "non-judgmental atmosphere where no one was made fun of because of how they dressed or how they danced."

Before I saw Better Living Through Circuitry, when I heard the word Rave I thought of the old Buddy Holly song Rave On. Actually, both point to the fact that there are a lot of lonely people out there who are searching for a better life. Where would you recommend they look?

Rave on, this crazy feelin'
And I know it's got me reelin'
I'm so glad that you're revealing
Your love for me
Rave on, rave on and tell me
Tell me not to be lonely
Tell me you love me only
Rave on to me
- Buddy Holly