Dogs and Cats: The Revenge of Kitty Galore by Huffjackie and help from Baby G.

A few nights ago I took my mom and sister to the movies. Thanks to my dad's poker group I had a movie gift card so we went to see Dogs and Cats: The Revenge of Kitty Galore. I promised I'd review it, so here it is. Caroline helped me out with the review.

The movie was really funny. Caroline liked it too. Here's the "plot" (as my mom called it): This cat, Kitty Galore, is trying to make dogs go crazy on their owners so that they all get put in cages. It's up to the ultra-secret dog organization, with the help of the ultra-secret cat organization, to make sure she doesn't do this (they used the term ultra-secret in the movie and my mom explained what that means). But, the problem is that the cats and dogs don't get along AT ALL. The key to what Kitty Galore is planning is being held by a pigeon. Caroline said the best way to describe the pigeon is "scatter brained". She heard the term used by one of her friend's parents. Kitty Galore tries very hard to get rid of the pigeon, but the bad guys never succeed and they finally fiugre out how she's going to make all dogs go crazy. Which then sets up the final showdown.

Caroline and I have to agree that the funniest character was the pigeon. He was just funny and "scatter brained" which made him funny. My mom said that way the character was shown in the movie is the exact impression she gets of pigeons in general. There were a couple of places that referred to adult topics that Caroline and I didn't get. For example, the characters in the movie have to go talk to the worst criminal mind in the world somewhere called Alcatraz. Mom had to explain that one to me. The criminal mastermind, Mr. Tinkles (a white, fluffy cat), was strapped to a platform behind glass and he had a mask over his mouth. Mom said that was like some character named Hannibal Lector from an adult movie she has never seen and will never see in her life (those were her words exactly). She described the character from the rated-R movie and he sounded pretty bad. But Mr. Tinkles was funny and smart and not really scary (which is good because it's a children's movie).

There were several lessons on getting along with each other even though we're different in many ways. The kittens weren't afraid of the big dog, which surprised Diggs (the dog)because most cats were. So I guess the message is, we can all get along we just have to accept the differences which are makes us all special.

I would recommend the movie to anybody who likes a good movie. I'd give it an A because there was no kissing. However, I didn't give an A+ because I just don't like hairless cats. They could have picked a different cat for the bad person.

My experiment by Huffjackie

My materials included 5 books. I used the Diary of a Wimpy Kid and 1 39 clues. A metal spoon and a rubber ball (meidum sized). The purpose of the experiment was to see if I could toss the ball up in the air and if it landed on the books, roll straight. I did my experiment 20 times and the ball rolled straight once out of the 20 times. The other times it rolled over to the left or right. I deemed my experiment a failure in that it did not go straight enough times, but it was a success because it annoyed my mom. :)

The Sorcerer's Apprentice by HuffJackie

So M'Kirsten and Caroline went to see "Beauty and the Beast" at the Winspear. Mom and I decided to spend the Mom-and-Son time by going to see The Sorcerer's Apprentice at the Studio Movie Grill. We got there a little early, but didn't have to wait too long. My mom had never been to the movie theater grill, so it was fun showing her the ropes.

The food was fine. She ordered the chicken quesadillas, but there were too many peppers and so I didn't eat much. The best part of it were the chips and hot sauce. They came with the quesadillas (go figure). I had a Dr. Pepper and my mom had a Diet Dr. Pepper. She let me get as many refills as I wanted (for the price we paid for the drinks, according to her, I could have as many as I wanted. )

The movie started with the previews and there's one I'm really looking forward to now, but that's another blog. When the movie started I was really excited. My mom had given me some things to look for during the movie (always the teacher)so that I could review the movie afterwards. So I'll go down the list she gave me:

*Bad guys - He was funny. You knew he was bad because he did mean things. He's the same guy that was in Prince of Persia (the ostrich guy). He was a very convincing bad guy. He had the apperance of being a very "cultured (as my mom said)" look and spoke good. He didn't talk like his apprentice, and he required everyone else to speak correctly as well. I think this is what made him a good bad guy. You know, he could be very nice but then next minute kill somebody. It was very unexpected. SPOILER ALERT(my mom made me put this in): I'm not very sure if he got away in the end or was killed. The way they ended it made it possible, based on if the bad guy lived or died, for another movie. So I'd give the bad guy (who really was just a helper of the main bad girl--but you didn't see her at all except for the beginning and the very end).

Main good characters: There are several so here it goes:

*Balthazaar - I liked him because he was funny in not a clown way. He could do some really cool magic and his main job was to train the "Prime Merlinian". Turns out to be this geeky guy who's in love with this pretty blond girl. He meets the kid when the kid's ten, but things got scary really fast and Balthazaar and the bad guy got trapped for 10 years. He was funny, but took his job seriously.

*David (Dave) was the Sorcerer's apprentice (the Prime Merlinian). He was geeky and kids made fun of him. He liked this girl named Becky. He ended up being a science major (I didn't recognize the type of physics he was in to, but my mom said it's kind of higher stuff). He decides to train to be a sorcerer because he realizes it's what he's supposed to do and if he doesn't the world will end as he knows it (why does it always have to be that bad in the movies?). Anyway, he trains and the whole point is that he can do magic only with the ring of Merlin on until he becomes the true "Prime Merlinian" and then he can do the magic without it.

*We'll call her the "Love Interest". I hope I don't get as sappy about girls as this guy was about Becky. She was a really cool girl. She looked past his geekyness to see what was inside. She gave him a chance and was open to his Sorcerer gig (plus he was smart in physics which she was not). She was really good and strong (not physically but mentally).

Lesson learned: I think, after talking to mom that there were several lessons. 1) If you believe in yourself you can do just about whatever. It may be hard, and it may be hard to understand, but if you believe in yourself you can do it. I learned that from the main character. 2) You can do anything you set your mind to. With the "end of the world as we know it" on the line, Becky got over her fear of heights to help Dave defeat Morgana. That took some guts.

Grade: I'd give it an A-. It should have gotten a B+ on Jack Huffman's scale of movies. They kissed 3 times. Balthazaar and Victoria kissed once (it was kinda long) and then BOOM! right after that Dave and Becky kissed--Twice! That moved it to a B+. It did move up on the scale because the effects were AWESOME! I wish I could change my car into a different one, that was cool. The really cool magic that kept showing up was the metal eagle that came from the Empire State building. That was kind of a funny touch through the whole movie. Just when you didn't expect it, the bird would show up.

I would recommend it to just about anyone. I think Caroline would have enjoyed the movie, but it was kind of scary at the beginning.

I liked it, despite the kissing.

Book Review by Caroline -- Ten Apples Up On Top!

The book was about a lion, and a dog, and a tiger and they all had 10 apples on top. They took some apples out of a bear's refrigerator and the bear came with a mop and tried to make their apples fall on the floor. Everybody in town was chasing the lion, dog, and tiger to try and get their apples to fall. The lion and his friends got an umbrella and scooped the bears to get away from them. The lion and company got onto a bike and had to get off the bike before they ran into an apple carriage. They then went "Kablooey" into the apple carriage. Then everybody had 10 apples on top of their head.

I liked the book. It was a good book to read, and it was fun. If you just practice long enough you can get good at reading the words. Some words were hard, and they were nonsense and real words. The rhyming words made it kind of easy to read. I would recommend the book to my friends. It will go on my Summer Reading list.

Prince of Persia Movie Review by HuffJackie

Tonight my mom surprised me by taking me to dinner and the movie, "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time". I was really excited and had to choose between doing that or playing in the sprinklers with my friends. I chose the movie. My sister had been asked at the last minute to sleep over with a friend of hers, so my mom surprised me with the outing. We came up with the review on the way home from the movie.

I really liked the movie. It was kind of slow at first, but my mom told me it was a video game first so I was glad they gave us some information. There was a lot of action, which I liked. There were also these bad guys that were nasty mean, but like most good movies they got what they deserved in the end. My mom thought there was one scene that would be really scary for me (she saw it with my aunt yesterday)but it wasn't really that bad because I knew it wasn't real. People (mainly adults) laughed at the ostrich races, and I think there was some meaning that I didn't get because I'm only 9. But that part of the movie was funny to watch. People rode the ostriches like horses, so that was funny to watch.

There were only a few places where my mom had to help me understand what was going on but it was because I couldn't hear what they said. It was a pretty easy movie to follow. I was really glad they did more than one time travel scene because that made the end easier to understand. I'm glad the main, really mean guy got what he deserved in the end. I was surprised it was him, but I kinda thought it would be somebody you didn't expect and boy I didn't expect him.

I'm giving the movie 2 thumbs up because of the action in the story and the sword fighting. It is also good because it is easy to follow. My mom asked if I should give it a letter grade based on my two thumbs up and I said I'd give it an A-. She asked why the A- and I said because the main guy and the main girl kissed once. It would have been a B if they'd kissed more than once. They almost kissed two times before the actual fake, movie kiss but some more action happened which was good.

Review of the lunch my mom packed

Today I took my lunch, but my mom came and ate with me. Here's the review of the lunch she packed for me.

The chips she packed were Fritos. They were kinda spicy. They were thin chips and were a little too salty. I almost had a heart attach (literally)when I read how many grams of sodium there were in that one serving. But, they did have a nice taste. It's a good thing she packed me some water because all of the sodium made me thirsty.
The bread for my sandwich was soft and peanut buttery. The jelly was grape and gooey. There was just a hint of raspberry, but mainly it tasted like grape.
My brownie was chocolatey with a hint of peanut butter. There were nuts on the inside (good thing I'm not allergic!). It was crunchy at the edges but chewy in the middle. The pudding however, was smooth and smushy. It was very chocolatey and creamy.
The fruit salad had strawberries, grapes, apples and blueberries. It had a nice sauce that added just the right sweetness. I only ate the apples because the strawberries were smushy. The blueberries were not yet ripe because they were too tart. The berry flavor was a little overpowering.
Overall I'd say my mom packs a mean lunch. I'll give her an A-.

Food Critique by HuffJackie (Huffdaddy's son)

Tonight we had dinner at On the Border.

The tacos were really meaty. The lettuce really made it crunchy, and the cheese had a lot of cheesiness in it. The meat was really juicy and it had a kick to it. It was really spicy. The tomatoes got in there, too; they exploded with flavor.

M'Sara's salad had a peach flavor with a really good taste. You could taste the lettuce; it was really, really crunchy. I could taste the tomatoes and the meat, too. The meat was the same as in my tacos, very juicy and spicy.

As for Mom's quesadillas, they really had a cheesy flavor. The cheese was creamy. The chicken was chunky and it exploded with flavor.

The chips with the queso, I could taste most of the queso because it was cheesy and meaty at the same time, but I could also taste a little bit of corn with the chips.

The waitress got my order right, and I had my Coke, so that was good. She offered to get me another Coke before I asked. She was really nice.

And that is my review. Satisfied.

PA PA

My sister lost Pa Pa today. She stuck by him when everyone else thought he was a goner. He always bounced back and was never in any pain. Today..this morning at 6:15 his heart finally stopped in his sleep. This is the email that my sister sent out today. We all love you PA PA




About 5 years ago I was at the city animal shelter registering my pets. The shelter staff walked an old dog by. I asked about him and they said he was a stray. However, he had a collar with a tag. The tag had a non-working phone number and the name "Sampson." I told them I would take the old dog. They discouraged me saying "Take another one. Something is wrong with this one. He walks in circles." I sat with him a while and then took him home anyway.

I kept Sampson's name because it fit him. Even though his face was already gray, with his barrel chest and big black nose, I knew he was something. He was a fighter - a street dog - the "John Wayne" of dogs. Sampson and I have worked though is physical disabilities, seizures, Cushings Disease, geriatric vestibular disease a heart murmur and a herniated disc. We have been to the dog ER too many times to count. His partially home cooked meals had more supplements than an Olympic athlete - and he was okay with that.

People thought Sampson was old and feeble. While he was on some accounts (15 years old best guess), he loved short walks, he was deceptively fast, and could run when he wanted. Just 12 months ago, he got out with all the other dogs, ran fast/far, and came home in the dog catcher truck.

A stroke this week was more than my tough Sampson could handle. I lost my big strong boy today. I trust he knows I did my best for him. True to his sweet personality, he made it easy on me in the end.

People say Sampson was lucky to have me....I say I was lucky to have Sampson. He made me laugh and smile. I love him and I will miss him.

TO SAMPSON: Run fast big man on four good legs and in a straight line! I love you and miss you.

It's Been A While

I have been lacking in my bloggoshpere here lately. There are many reasons I guess. Lack of time being one of them and the other...just tired.

This past week was a little rough on me. I did not feel really that great. For whatever reason it seemed like everything hurt. My feet, hands, back and hips all hurt. Hurt like if I dropped something it was a major ordeal to bend over and pick it up.
The kids were edgy and got on each others nerves and the dogs were going in the house constantly because they would not go outside to do their business.

This (AND I DON"T BLAME HER A BIT)made Tracey edgy. Why? because 95% of needed to be done she had to do it.

I don't blame her at all for being tired or short with me and the kids. All she wants to do is get some rest. I know it appears that I am sitting on my duff doing nothing but in this case appearances do not tell the whole story.

I mentioned earlier that everything "hurts". The main issue I am dealing with now is the skin on my back, hips, and upper legs. It's the darn GvH. What is or has in a lot of places happened is the skin hardens and loses its ability to move. When you move sometimes it is so dry it cracks and starts to bleed.

It is really hard to describe but you would be amazed at how debilitating that is and how extremely painful that is to deal with.

To make it through the day I usually take some light pain killers given to me by the doctors.

I try to be careful and not cry wolf. Meaning I try to keep my mouth shut about needing help unless I really need it or I make sure I am not overselling the pain issue. I know Tracey get's tired of hearing about it...again who wouldn't.

But then the other day the doctors took a look at my back, hips, and legs and they wanted to know if I was still working? I asked them what do you mean? And my doctor said, How are you able to keep working 8-4 while dealing with this stuff? I told him well to be honest if it were not for my wife I would be in pretty bad shape. Each morning she puts lotion on my back to give it some elasticity. She then pretty much has to dress me and then on some mornings she has to open my pill bottles so I can take my meds because my hands don't do buttons at all and pill bottles are tough for a normal person.

So then I think....well maybe I am not overselling this pain issue. If they are surprised I am able to work.

The doctors want to do a new "experimental" treatment for my GVH but I am REALLY not excited about it. I would have to get another port put in my chest AND there is only a 40% chance of it working. And you don't even want to know the treatment schedule....it's over 3 FREAKING months. Not to mention lost revenue from work and the medical bill I am going to get. Just got one for over $1,000 for the last experimental treatment and it did not work..if anything it got worse. whatever happened to "maximum out of pocket?" I am ready for that to take effect.

Just venting there. The people at UTsouthwestern are awesome and with out them I would be below ground instead of above it.

It's just frustrating. I have what I would consider pretty good days all considering and then I will have one or two days where I am in PAIN. I tried to trace it down as to WHY but I don't have an answer yet. On the outside looking in I know that has to be frustrating to my family. Hey look daddy is moving and shaking everything is going good and then BAM!!!! Two days where it hurts to BLINK!!

So to my family I apologize when I am short with you. Please keep sticking with me. I love you Tracey. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I want you know that without you I am a nothing.

Someone here is "Special" Can you see who?

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Hit the BENCH!!

Where is time going? Did we not just say HAPPY NEW YEAR!?!?!? Now we are staring down the barrel of Valentine’s Day.
Work has been going okay I guess. I have started working on the realignment of the Science TEKS that go into effect next year with our Scope and Sequence…..easy everyone…….I know that is exciting stuff.
Just to cover my bases for next year I did get my resume together and got my application in to two larger school districts that are around my home. If I do get a job at either place CHA CHING!!!
I realize I am going to sound REAL bad here BUT….I am tired of hearing about Haiti. There….I said it. It’s out there. I feel horrible for feeling that way but come on! Does it have to lead off every news cast? Yesterday afternoon I flipped through 4 networks in about an hour’s time of watching TV. One network did not say something about Haiti….guesses? That would be the FOOD NETWORK.
Jack has been testing it a bit lately….The boy just turned 9….with luck he will live to see 10. Seriously though it is starting to bleed into other areas. Last night at BB practice he just decided to ignore what I was telling him to do and do what he wanted to do. PROBLEM!! I am the coach. So I called time called his name and pointed to the bench. Well we were scrimmaging and Tracey was in there with the boys and I was on the outside perimeter barking orders. Well Jack sat there for a couple of minutes and then he got up to stand by me. I asked him what he was doing and his response was…”I am ready to go back in now.” I told him I thought that was nice but that it was not about HIM it was about the team. As long as he was going to ignore me and do what he wanted to do I could not put HIM in the game. I told him I would rather have a less talented team that LISTENED than a talented individual who blew me off. So you see Jack…It does not matter what YOU are ready for…..have seat on the bench.
OH THAT WAS PAINFUL FOR HIM…..

FASCINATING!

There has been a ton of things going on and I have been slipping in my obligation to blog so that you are in the know about what is going on in my life! Because let’s face it people. My life is that interesting…..as a matter of fact it’s darn right fascinating!
Well what all has been going on?
Well we started off the week with Tracey’s car being put in the shop. Why? Because it had a cracked (Now Broke) sub frame. That’s right…the frame of the car is broke. How? Not real sure….for something of that nature to happen usually the car has to have been in some type of accident. At this time we don’t remember being in an accident. The history report does not show any accidents on the car. But frames to cars do not just BREAK as you are backing out of the garage.
ALL STATE INSURANCE! Thank goodness for them. They have been taking care of us so far. Nice car replacement! I did not know that we pay for premium service but since we do my deductable was only $200. Beats the $2500.00 tab I would have to pay.
In the HAPPY NEW YEAR department- Opened up an envelope from UT Southwestern this week (always exciting) to find a bill for $1,000 that we owe for an experimental treatment (that did not work) to control my graph vs. host issues. As much as this stinks at least I don’t have to pay the entire $250,000. They want to try another one sometime soon. My “excitement meter” is pegged in the red zone.
This weekend is all about Jack! He turns 9 on Monday!
Friday Night- Pine Wood Derby with the boy scouts- The whole family goes to this. In addition to us my parents and my sister always show up for this event. Some people take this WAY TOO seriously so that is always fun to watch. Jack and my dad (PA) built his car. It should be a lot of fun. Jack designed it and my dad cut the wood for him. The car looks great!
Saturday- Basketball Game and Birthday Party at Main Event- Jack can hardly wait. Bowling and Laser Tag! Two of his most favorite things to do in this world.
Sunday- Family party- Everyone coming over to the house to adore Jack! Always fun.

Caroline NEWS! I had my first parent conference with Caroline’s teacher yesterday. She did awesome. She got perfect scores across the board. She is the model little student. She basically is the teacher’s aide. She takes papers to the copy lady in the front office. She escorts children to the front office for clinic visits. She gets supplies for the teacher when needed. Her teacher told me that she just LOVES Caroline and she is such a huge help. She is truly wise beyond her years….teachers words..not mine.
Jack is doing MUCH BETTER in school. Grades and behavior marks are much improved. Math continues to be our area of focus. He LOVES math but Jack speeds through his work and often makes errors because of his haste. The other night we spent about an hour redoing work that he declared “finished”. Every question where he did not show his work he missed it. He started to get frustrated with me but I put back on him. He understood and took it quite well. He told me as we were finishing that he would start to show his work.
Monday of this week marked the two year anniversary of my transplant. To celebrate Tracey and I took the family (us, my sister, Tracey’s sister, my parents, and Tracey’s mom and stepdad) to dinner. We went to Dunston’s Steakhouse on Inwood….right across from the Inwood Theater. It was a wonderful evening with wonderful (and very affordable) food.
Tracey’s birthday is in a couple of weeks. I want to take her and the kids somewhere special for dinner…perhaps a return trip to Dunstons? This place is awesome!
Finally got my scanner set up. Think I will upload some pictures for Facebook. I was looking at some pictures the other night that I want to upload. What a wonderful time in life (high school and college) you have the freedom to do and for the most part no major responsibility.
Good Times!
See what I mean….FASCINATING PEOPLE!!

Writing My Obituary Before I Die

That is what it feels like I am doing. You see my current position with the school district runs out at the end of my current contract. At the moment there are no promises as to what I will be doing with the district next year. So I have to update the resume and start applying in other districts to cover my basis. In many ways I feel like I am writing my obituary before I die. I really don’t want to leave my district. I love it here and I love who I work with on a daily basis. At the same time my family likes to eat as well so I have to be prepared to leave.

WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR

Well all good things come to an end I suppose. At least I know we are on the up swing. Once Farve retires....again....what is Minnisota going to do?

HOW I FEEL

That's Right..He said EIGHT Purple Hearts

I Dont Get This Hire

Are We Too Accessible?

I think we as a society have become accustomed to someone we know being too accessible. I am guilty of it and I hate it. You call someone at home and they are not there. You leave a message. You then try to reach them on their cell phone. They don’t pick up. You leave message there too. Then you think….where the heck are they?
I think I get a bit miffed when I am on the other side of this argument as well. I hate it when I call my dad and he says…I have been trying to reach you but you don’t pick up your home phone or your cell.
Unlike my dad I don’t carry my cell phone EVERYWHERE! I have called him on his cell only to find out he is sitting in his recliner.
I think it is stupid to be in your home with your cell phone on sitting right beside you….yet I am guilty.
Yesterday I was laying in bed reading and I had the land line and my cell phone sitting right by me….guilty
I think if you call me on my cell or at the house and I don’t pick it up leave a message. I will return the call.
I think if you call and don’t leave a message don’t expect a call back.
Over the Christmas break I broke free from my cell phone so to speak. Rarely had it with me or had it on period. It was very nice.
AND TO THINK I REMEMBER WHEN THERE WAS NO ANSWERING SERVICE. IF THE PERSON DID NOT PICK UP IT JUST RANG AND RANG!!!!

News From My Doctor

Morning Everyone! Last week I went to the doctor for my monthly check up. As many of you have known I have been battling different ailments that have to deal with graf vs. host. Things your body deals with after having a transplant from a non-related donor.


Most notably I have been dealing with extreme pain in my feet and extremely dry skin. Well I have been on medication for about three weeks and my feet feel GREAT! As for the skin...well I am the poster boy for vaseline intensive care....I have it at all times.


Oh...and my eyes....I developed cataracts in both eyes due to the steroid I have been on for three years. I had my second surgery over the break and I am now seeing 20-25 overall.......It's like seeing in high def! AWESOME!!


I tell you all of this that brings me to this. January 18th marks YEAR NUMBER 2 from my transplant date. I have heard my doctors say anywhere from 3 to 5 years being cancer free and you are in the clear. So I asked Dr. Collins...WHICH IS IT? 3 years or 5 years?!?!


Dr. Collins is very non committal....as they have to be I understand...nothing is guaranteed....but here is what he had to say.


Mr. Huffman your counts have looked great for quite some time. If you had any cancer cells in your body the graf vs. host that you have going on would literally eat it. I am convinced that the cancer is COMPLETELY GONE! All we are going to do is control your graf vs. host and make sure you are comfortable. If you did not have any graf vs. host we would give you medication that would create graf vs. host. Studies have shown Mr. Huffman that if the patient with your type of cancer makes it to the 3rd year the cancer RARELY comes back...and 5 years it is almost nonexistent.


It did not hit me until I was in the car on the way home that for the first time EVER Dr. Collins told me what he was really thinking. He has NEVER committed one way or the other (which again I understand) on the possibilities of survival because I am a rare case. There are not a lot of statistics for him to research. Usually the patients are much older or are children and the patients cannot handle the treatment therefore they fall to the treatment before the disease. Therefore I am a lab rat! I am providing all kinds of information for their studies.


I just wanted you to know because all of you have been on this very long journey that started on May 25, 2006 and for the FIRST TIME the docter said..."CANCER COMPLETELY GONE" While it is not a guarantee if Dr. Collins is saying it I like the odds.....maybe I should hit the poker tables in Oklahoma while I am on a roll....

Pure GREATNESS in Advertising

I AM CALLING "BS" ON THIS ADVERTISEMENT

Have you seen the taco bell commercial where the girl lost a ton of weight while eating taco bell fresh items?

The before and after shots are amazing....but I have a few questions.

I wanted to lose weight but did not want to give up my fast food.......

Ummmm...then how did you think you could lose the weight? Cutting back only gets you so far.

These results are not typical........... no kidding....you either had surgery or did something drastic and throwing some pico on your taco aint it.

What does that mean?

My wife said the other day..."Like it makes a sh%ts bit of difference?"

What does that mean? No matter what bit you have it's still sh%t?

INPUT PLEASE