Texas Sports: A Fantabulous Year!!!

We just returned from another thrilling end to the basketball season, the 2006 version of the NBA Draft. There are definitely perks to having a good friend working at the NBA. Little miss NBA got us tickets to the draft as well as tickets to the VIP Reception beforehand. Sam and I were treated to dinner and drinks at Madison Square Garden and the great seats to the draft. Even though we arrived late and it was completely packed, we got some dinner, stood next to NBA Commissioner David Stern and got full from the dessert table.


Even though Sam was not in favor of attending the draft, it was important to me to go. This year there are 4 University of Texas players (my alma mater) eligible for the draft and one was a top ten hopeful. Well, he kicked the top ten's ass! LaMarcus Aldridge went #2 overall to Chicago who traded him to Portland!!!! It's the best showing for a Texas player...ever! Texas has had one hell of a year -- first Vince Young and now LaMarcus. Hopefully at least one of the other guys will go in the first round!!

It was a rowdy crowd at the Garden tonight. New Yorkers are so unhappy that the Knicks traded their #2 pick to Chicago (read: If the Knicks had kept their pick, LaMarcus would be playing for us) that the crowds were loud. They chanted "Fire Thomas!" and "Sell the Knicks". Even David Stern commented on the rowdiness of the crowd.

In addition to the Draft tonight, the crowd outside was pretty thick since the Madonna concert was tonight too...I'm guessing this was a really good night for MSG.

I am very proud of my Texas boy. We left the draft after the #6 pick, but will always have our trusty new NBA radio to keep us company...

Can I Skip This Summer, Please?

It is too damn hot outside. Before anyone calls me a big baby, I would like to mention a few things.

First a comparison of Texas vs. New York:

1. Summers in Texas have been known to have high temps of 112 degrees -- NYC rarely gets above 90 degrees.

2. Texas is air conditioned -- that's right, the whole damn state. The only time you'll have to feel the heat is if your AC breaks down or if you decide to do something stupid, like, spend some time outside without the use of a freezing cold swimming pool.

3. Texas apartments (and houses, for that matter) have cross breezes as a result of windows on more than one wall! We have one wall of windows and it's hotter inside than outside.

4. Texas people drive CARS everywhere (and cars usually have AC) versus non-air-conditioned subway stations, subway cars, etc.

5. Texas allows for people to commute ALONE (unless they're trying to save money) versus smelling ridiculous body odor from all of the stinky commuters stuffed into a subway car.

Sam and I ventured outside yesterday for TWO whole hours, which resulted in sunburns, massive needs for water, an addition of what seemed like 25 pounds thanks to water retention and swelling, as well as sheer exhaustion! All that for a damn street festival that wasn't all that exciting and did not result in any new items for myself or the apartment.

So, I don't know how many more days like this I can take. Seeing the temperatures rise above 70 degrees scares me and makes me want to hide. Unfortunately, most days, the outside is cooler than our stuffy apartment. So I'm thinking I'm just going to skip summer this year....

The Newest Family Members...

I know everyone's been waiting for pictures of the new boys in the 'hood. They've been here two weeks as of tomorrow and we're definitely still getting used to each other. Blue has finally begun living out from under the futon and out of the shower (his two favorite hiding places). They don't jump at everything now, just most movement. Lucky has claimed Sam's suitcase as his personal bed. They love our window sills, jumping onto the kitchen counter, jumping onto the coffee table, jumping onto the bed, jumping onto the...well, you get the picture. We've adjusted well to being cat parents. We keep them fed, watered and with clean litter.

Enjoy pictures of the munchkins, I'm sure there will be plenty more to follow in the future...

This is Lucky:



This is Blue:



And this is the boys in the window:



And for Mitzi, Bass and Janey -- don't get jealous, these are not replacement children. Just think of it as having two new little annoying brothers! We still love you!!