Finally! How 'bout them Cowboys!

Finally! 34-14 over the Eagles gave our beloved Dallas Cowboys their first playoff victory since 1996.

The pessimist in me figured it might not happen this year, especially after losing to San Diego in early December and seeing the Cowboys’ top defensive player Demarcus Ware carted off on a backboard. And with unbeaten New Orleans six days later it did not look good for the ‘Boys, who were left sitting at 8-5 and trailing the first place Eagles in the NFC East.

But then something happened. Dallas went into the Big Easy and literally spanked the Saints. The score ended up being 24-17 but Dallas was ahead 24-7 midway through the fourth quarter. Dallas handed ‘Nawlins its first setback.

Okay but there were still two games left including one with the Eagles. I’m still feeling a little pessimistic but a 17-0 win over the Redskins meant a battle for the NFC East championship with the Eagles. At home.


Now I’ve come to my senses. The way the Cowboys are playing they’re going to win the East. Boom! 24-0 over the Eagles. The defense had a second shutout and the team had a No. 3 seed in the NFC Playoffs.


I admit sitting through chemo treatments all week I didn’t know if Dallas could beat Philadelphia a third time but I knew if the Cowboys put together another performance close to last week’s they could.

Sure enough tonight, 34-14! The offense dominated time of possession and scored on five straight series in the second quarter to build a 27-7 lead. The Cowboys were riding high – the Eagles were flying pretty low. But still 30 minutes to play.


My Razorback homie Felix Jones sealed the deal in the third quarter with his 73-yard touchdown run. Reminded me of his days in Fayetteville. And it reminded Cowboys fans what the real Felix can do when he’s healthy.

Tony Romo was not perfect tonight but relatively close. He threw no interceptions and the Cowboys committed no turnovers. Penalties? Well…still a good night by all.

The offense line blocked well. The receivers, including Roy Williams, caught passes. And the running backs ran hard. Defensively, holding a high-powered Eagles’ offense to only 14 points over the last eight quarters, was incredible and has been even in the win over New Orleans.

Dallas has a chance to win this whole thing. There I said it. IF, and that’s a big IF, they can continue their late season roll. It will not be easy next Sunday in Minneapolis, but then when is anything easy in the playoffs?

Go Cowboys!

Resolutions? LOSE weight and blog more

We all say we're going to lose weight at the beginning of the year. That's pretty much on everyone's New Year's resolution list.

Well I can honestly say it is #1 on my list for 2010. I weigh more now than I have my entire life. Okay I'm not ashamed, well I am ashamed, but not ashamed to say I weigh as I type 236 pounds. TWO HUNDRED THIRTY SIX. Can you say The Biggest Loser?

Why do I weigh so much? Hang on a sec and let me take another drink of my Pepsi.

That's part of the problem right there. I'm still drinking way too many sodas. I just can't seem to give sodas up. You would think if I could give up smoking almost 30 years ago cold turkey I should be able to give up Pepsi's right?

The biggest reason I've gained so much weight lately is the fact I'm not exercising. I do have an excuse – I’ve been recovering from cancer surgery on my left calf in which I lost 90% of it as well as my Achilles tendon.

I cannot jog anymore and really cannot walk without the use of a cane. I spend most of my free time on the couch with my leg jacked up on three pillows because if I’m on my feet too long my left foot and ankle swell.

I have an excuse for that too. I am continuing hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatments for a couple of wounds on my leg that have not healed because of damaged skin from radiation. “Diving” every day the equivalent of 40 feet can sometimes wipe you out and make you very sleepy.

Plus chemo made me gain a lot, too. But a lot of that weight gain is fluids given along with the chemo. In fact, the first round of my chemo I gained 17 pounds in 36 hours – all fluids. After being given a diuretic and going to the bathroom every 20 minutes I lost those 17 pounds pretty fast. LOL

I can start a diet on Monday (Jan. 4) but I resume chemo. Then I will most likely finish up my hyperbaric treatments the following two weeks before another round of chemo. That means more time on the couch.

Hopefully once hyperbaric and chemo is done I can gradually start exercising again. I can definitely start cutting out the Pepsi’s and start drinking more water. I’ve been told by Rhonda a million times water is the way to go.

Rhonda and I used to walk for two hours on a regular basis but now that will be limited to maybe just a trek up and down my street or how my foot can handle. So it might take a while before the weight is gone.

My goal is to lose 20-25 pounds by July when Rhonda and I hope to take an Alaskan cruise to celebrate our 25th anniversary. My ultimate goal is to get back to my softball playing and wedding weight – 185 pounds.

That, however, may take two to three years.

And one last resolution – blog more often. I would love to blog every day but when you live a non-exciting life, it’s kind of hard. Maybe I’ll blog about my quest to lose weight?

Happy New Year!