What #THEY had to say. What I'm saying.

OK. These are some of the statements made #THEY about the Portland Trail Blazers' chances for this just completed NBA season, on front of a shirt and surrounding the #THEY. I have to post this today because I imagine some of #THEY said the same thing about our chances in the 2016 Draft last night.

A Washington Post headline, today, online: Maryland’s Jake Layman selected in second round of NBA draft, headed to the Portland Trail Blazers

Here's the article by Roman Stubbs, under the heading Terrapin Insider which I take it to mean Roman knows Jake 'cause Jake's a Terrapin:

On the perhaps the most significant day of his life, Jake Layman rose out of bed and decided to go golfing with three of his friends at a course outside of Boston. It was a built-in stress reliever from the countdown of the NBA draft, which has essentially been ticking since he was a boy. He tried not to think about the pressure and the thought of his name being called. His girlfriend and Maryland manager Ryan Lumpkin drove up from Maryland for the night, bringing Layman’s two dogs with them to help ease any anxiety that he was feeling.

It all went out the window in the middle of the second round late Thursday night. He received a call from his agent. “It’s a home run,” Layman was told. He replied by simply asking: “What do we got?”

He was then informed that the Portland Trail Blazers were trading up with the Orlando Magic to take Layman at No. 47 overall. Portland sent $1.2 million and a 2019 second round pick for the services of the four-year player from Maryland, who was only encouraged by the fact that the Blazers actively made a move to secure him. Layman didn’t work out for Portland, but he had heard of interest there.

“I’ve watched them play a lot. They shoot a lot of threes. Their offense will fit me well. I think it’s a great fit,”said Layman, who will report to Portland within the next five days. “It definitely gives me a lot of confidence. It shows that they really wanted me, to go through that much work to get me. I think it’s a great time.”

Layman became the second former Maryland player to be involved in a trade after coming off the board Thursday night. Center Diamond Stone went seven picks earlier to the New Orleans and was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Layman finished tied with former Maryland star Juan Dixon with 141 career games played over four years, equaling that school record this past season while helping Maryland win 27 games and reach the Sweet 16 for the first time in 13 years. Maryland had higher aspirations with a roster loaded with professional talent, one that was only bolstered after Layman held off on declaring for the 2015 draft following his junior season.

He vowed to return to College Park and further polish his draft stock while helping lead the Terrapins, and while he didn’t come close to cracking the first round Thursday night, he still recognized a lifelong goal of hearing his name called.

“I was confident that I was going to get picked, no matter what round it was,” Layman said.

Though Layman endured plenty of ups and downs and struggled with his confidence at times while at Maryland, he will also be remembered for his loyalty to Terrapins Coach Mark Turgeon. The Massachusetts native stuck with the program while Maryland lost five transfers in the spring of 2014. Layman averaged 11.6 points and 5.3 rebounds as a senior, finishing his career as one of only 12 players in school history with over 1,400 points and 600 rebounds.

Layman was projected as a second-round pick by a number of analysts throughout the spring, when he toured the country to conduct individual workouts with more than half of the league’s teams. Layman has enticed NBA scouts for the past two years with his athleticism and shooting ability — but his primary goal over the past eight weeks was to continue refining his body (he’s up to 210 pounds and hopes to play at 220 in the NBA) and show teams consistency with his confidence.

Layman didn’t speak with reporters until well after midnight, but he still was beaming over being selected. That his former teammate Stone didn’t get drafted until No. 40 overall didn’t add any anxiety, he said, because all he was focused on was being one of the 60 players to hear their name called. He also expressed no regret in returning to school for his senior season and delaying this kind of celebration by a year. He earned his degree and elevated his game he said, and the end result Thursday was well worth the wait.

“It was a great day,” Layman said. “Once I got picked , every one went crazy. It was a great scene.”

I've been on that campus; I've been in their field house. I feel doggone good about this pick. Welcome to Portland, Jake. So proud you finished your degree!

Man at work: a sight I long to see again. Alas, I must wait until the 2016-2017 NBA season begins.

As I came down the escalator right at the end of the April 9 game against the Minnesota Timberwolves who managed to win by one dadgum point, my heart hurt. However, when I saw Adam sitting calmly at his broadcast desk, getting ready for his post-game duties beside the empty chair that belongs to Michael Holton who no doubt would be on his way in seconds, I felt a calmness that comes from witnessing a professional at work.

I've been blessed to get to know Adam over the years since the 2011-2012 season when I first became a Portland Trail Blazers' season ticket holder. He's not only professional, he's honorable, personable, and possesses an inner strength that allows him to take what life deals and handle it day by day with care and grace. And I know for certain that he's a great guy to come upon when you need a hug!

Adam, I hope that you enjoy seeing this photo and that you and Lindsay don't mind that I've altered your NBA.com Trail Blazers broadcasting bio to reflect what's happened with your dear Murphy. Plus, I added Carly's sweet name, too. Cade would be all over me if I forgot to do that!

Found on the Web: Adam Bjaranson begins his fifth season as the Trail Blazers Television Studio Host in 2014-15, teaming up with Michael Holton for the Toyota Pregame Show and the McDonald’s Halftime Show, shot live from the 100-level concourse of the Moda Center. Prior to joining the Trail Blazers, he spent nine years anchoring sports in the Portland market with both KPTV (FOX) and KGW (NBC). Bjaranson has won numerous awards for broadcasting excellence, including the Oregon Association of Broadcasters “Television Sports Announcer of the Year” in 2008, as well as the Associated Press Award for “Best Sportscast.” The Warrenton, Ore., native’s first taste of work in the NBA came as an intern for the Golden State Warriors radio network in 1995-96. Following that, he landed his first television job in Coos Bay, Ore., in 1997, before spending the next four years at KVEW-TV (ABC) in Kennewick, Wash. Bjaranson graduated from Portland State University in 1995, before heading down to San Francisco State University to hone his broadcast skills. He is involved in numerous charities, including Caddies 4 Cure and the NW Autism Foundation. During his free time, Bjaranson can be found on many of Oregon’s incredible golf courses or collecting sports memorabilia. Bjaranson resides in Beaverton with his wife Lindsay, son Cade, their daughter Carly, and their two beagles — Murphy and Oden.

Sadly, I have to report that Murphy recently went to doggie heaven, as Adam put it. Here's what his wife Lindsay wrote on Facebook, in honor of their sweetheart: I've been struggling to find words that adequately express our deep love for Murphy and the unbearable sadness we're feeling with his passing. They say dogs are like family. Well, first of all we never use the word "dog" to describe Murphy or his brother Oden. And I would take it even further. Murphy is the reason this family even exists. First he brought Adam and I together to love and care for him. Then along came Odie to be a companion to Murphy. He taught us how to be parents and put someone else's needs first. He taught us how to worry, make tough decisions, laugh and get over the small stuff, and that no matter how bad a day you're having, there's someone at home who loves you and can't wait to see you come through that door.

Murphy, buddy, coming home will never be the same. We are the parents we are today because of you. You were so patient and ever loyal, even when you had to share our attention with Cade and Carly. Seeing Cade look to the sky and pick out the cloud he thinks you're laying on both warms and breaks my heart at the same time. You are forever in our hearts and we will see each other again. Until we join you, enjoy Dog Heaven buddy.

Forever our "firstborn."

UPDATE and I went to the Blazer's pre-season game!

UPDATE: I made a meatloaf from scratch today and baked three potatoes. Now one of the potatoes is gone, as well as part of the meatloaf. Gone, as in enjoyed bite by bite! Work tomorrow 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, too. Thanks for your continued prayers, love, and concern. 



Right after I sat down in my seat, I took this photo with my iPhone--pre-game-shoot-around. Here's how I got to my seat. First, Lamont let me know that he'd pick me up at 5:30 p.m. so that I would be there in plenty of time for the 6 p.m. start of the game. Then, on the way I called the phone number I'd been given last April for the wheelchair escort. It didn't work, so I asked Lamont to let me out at the curb, and I walked slowly to the entrance I always use.



Once I got inside and through security, a Portland Police Bureau officer complimented me on my hat! Sweet! Thanks, Lori, for making it for me! Other employees smiled at me, but I'll bet it was my hat that got them going!

Next I talked with some Guest Services guys, Jose, Pecola, and Braheem, who made certain that a wheelchair appeared quickly to whisk me away to my entrance. They also let me know that I had been given an incorrect phone number last April. Now I've edited it and know that once I appear at that gate, Pecola says he'll have a wheelchair waiting for me and/or send one out to the curb for me, if need be. I want to walk when I feel good enough to do so. I also found out that before the wheelchair escort leaves, I can make a reservation for the return of the wheelchair, say a specific time or when the game ends, etc. That's great to know!



The Blazers didn't play very well until the 4th quarter when all of a sudden we were totally in the game. This young man, C.J. McCollum, scored 18 of his 26 points in the 4th quarter and OT! This is a photo of my big ol' TV screen when C.J. was being interview after the game.

I had asked Leland to pick me up at 8:15 p.m., so the wheelchair arrived back at my gate at 8:05 p.m. The game was very close, and right after we got outside, I checked the app--it looked like we had a chance! The wheelchair escort LaShawn waited with me on the sidewalk until Leland got there. By the time we pulled away, the game had gone into overtime! And when I got home and turned on my big ol' TV, the Blazers had the lead and went on to win! Who cares if it was just a pre-season game? The players leaned a lot tonight, I'll bet. I liked that they never quit!

How nice all of these men were tonight, from my sons Lamont and Leland, to Pecola and Braheem and LaShawn, plus Jose who also had been nice and helpful for me several times four years ago. I cannot forget to mention the usher at my section, Paul. What a great guy! I was very tickled to recognize him as I approached. I hope that I feel good enough to go to the home opener on October 28!

UPDATE and my supper this evening

UPDATE: Interesting day. I slept well, woke up 15 minutes before the alarm, put too much salt in my morning oatmeal and had to toss it, instead ate tiny croissants, prunes and raisins, with hot tea and water. I took all of my pre-chemo meds as prescribed. Lamont and I got to the Oncology Center just after 7 a.m. I had the blood work again, checked in for Chemo Round Three when the receptionist was ready to begin her day, then I sat down to wait the hour until the 8:30 a.m. appointment.

I had to get that blood checked again because the very low platelet count from yesterday demanded a re-count. Happy that it and the white blood count and the hemoglobin count were inside normal, too. I was so happy about that that I forgot to ask the oncology pharmacist what would have happened if the platelet count stayed so low. I'm going to e-mail her and ask about that so I will know, in case this happens again. At 4:21 p.m., Lamont and I were in his car driving out of the parking garage.

During the morning I had developed two tiny, itchy, red hives on my left wrist which the nurse, the oncology pharmacist and I agreed were hives brought on by the chemo called Taxo. It was paused, I had Benadryl dripped in through the line used for the saline, and once the hives had completely disappeared, the Taxo was turned on again. I took until 3:21 p.m. because I was able to tolerate 150 ml/hour starting at 12:48 p.m. That's my max rate since I've had some side effects from the Taxo on all three rounds. Nothing that those professionals couldn't straighten out. Let me tell you, I am treated like a queen by everyone there! I am so grateful for these people and the care that they give me!



Here's what I wanted for supper, the Killer Burger minus the house sauce, grilled onions and pickles. It is perfect; the fries are perfect; the fountain drink Barq's root beer is perfect. I ate half of it all and drank not quite half of the root beer. The rest of it is in the frig, ready for me to enjoy tomorrow. For dessert, after I'd been home for a while, I enjoyed a single piece of Edwards' lemon meringue pie. Now, I'm heading for the recliner and will, in all probability, fall asleep during Thursday night football on NBC

I'm that tired. The oncology pharmacist told us that the fatigue is cumulative with each round, so it will get more pronounced and could continue after the last round in early November. I certainly have noticed it lately. Anyway, it's great to know that it is an expected side effect.

In the back of my mind, I wonder if I will be able to go to any home Portland Trail Blazers' games due to this fatigue. Opening night is October 28. I know that I have the option of calling for a wheel chair to meet me at the curb and roll me to the entry where I will sit, and then take me back to the curb afterwards. I'll go in a cab each way, wearing my mask to protect me against the possibility of a cold or the flu. We'll see if it works out. If it doesn't, maybe I'll be able to sell those games or give them to someone who wants to go alone. Go, Blazers!

Thank you for every single prayer, for your love, and for your concern. I need all of that and can feel it happening.

UPDATE with video & photo - Look at these four fine young people enjoying one of my Portland Trail Blazers' season ticket holder perks!!

Update: Well, I got my hair clipped down to a Velcro-like stubble yesterday, professionally and in no time flat, by Rosa, my sweet friend and hairdresser.



Here's the big reveal! It's video, so when you click on it, you'll go to my Flickr account and have to click one more time to see and hear it. Thanks! Now, over 24 hours later, I'm completely at ease with how I look and ready for whatever is next. Chemo Round Two is Wednesday.



A photo that I took today, wearing a scarf which soon became loose. I'm not so sure about scarves. Maybe I'll come around because I believe I'm gonna have plenty of time to find out!



Back on August 5, I had hoped to go see the Portland Thorns play soccer at Providence Park. However, it turned out that my chemo port placement procedure got scheduled for first thing that morning, be at the hospital at 6:15 a.m. to check in. I knew I'd be very tired, still recovering from the July 29 Chemo Round One, plus the early rising to make that appointment. So, Lamont, Leland, Rachel and Brody enjoyed the soccer outing instead. They had a blast! The Thorns won 5-2! The kids also got a meal voucher for a hot dog, chips and soda. Oh, and the each got a cool pair of shades!

I won't be going here tonight--it's now known as Providence Park. UPDATE.

As a season ticket holder for the Portland Trail Blazers, I had the chance to go see the women's soccer team play tonight--the Portland Thorns. This is one thing I won't be doing because of the cancer and the chemotherapy. Plus I have the placement of the port in a few hours.

As I understand it, the port will be placed just beneath my skin somewhere near my collarbone. It will remain in there until I am done with all of the chemo--presently scheduled for Round 6 on November 11. This port will enable my caregivers to infuse chemotherapy at that site so that I don't have to be stuck here and stuck there. Yea!

Lamont, Leland, Rachel, and Brody are going to watch the Thorns play this evening. I am so happy that they will be there, yelling for me!

UPDATE: Still no nausea, hallelujah! Still some peripheral neuopathy, which continues to wax and wane. Not feeling at this moment that I am wobbly or out of balance. I am blessed.

My ride to the hospital for the port placement will be here soon. Later, y'all!

One more sort of transportation, seen on May 22, 2009

Seen from the bus window on my home bound commute.



Portland Cascadia Pedicabs. This young man's got his hair in two French braids, on on each side of his head. Cool.



This is a video. Click on it so that the play button will be revealed. Thanks! I never tried this sort of transportation until this year, on my way home from a Portland Trail Blazers' game. It was a lot of fun! Here's a video of the first 33 seconds of the ride--he got me home A-OK. I rode with Boombox Josh of PDX Pedicab--riding in style, as he put it, on March 5, 2015, the night that we beat the Dallas Mavericks!



The fellow I saw in 2009 may have been dressed like this because Rose Festival events had started, not that anyone ever needs a reason to dress how they please in Portland.

Sights I'll miss until I am about out and about again, No. 4 - no biopsy results yet, not expected until later this week

Steps inside bus front doors, almost completely gone in my experience over the past eight plus years. And, even without undergoing a laproscopic hysterectomy last Friday, this is a sight I do not want to see when the bus door opens. In fact, if I'm not in a hurry and notice these steps through the bus door windows, I sometimes take a chance and wait for the next bus, especially at stops where I have several bus line options.

While the kneeling bus helps in getting from the sidewalk to that first step, the rest of the steps are higher than normal and not easy to maneuver.

RECOVERY UPDATE: After watching on TV the Trail Blazers win over the Grizzlies with Leland last night, I felt good enough to send him on home--I knew he was just a phone call and less than two miles away. (It was Lamont's turn to go to the game. What a fine one to witness, stopping a sweep by Memphis!) I slept very well, waking up twice during the night, but went right back to sleep. Woke up Tuesday morning, April 28, at 4:30 a.m., ate some warmed up leftover plain rice and drank some Twinings English Breakfast Tea. Washed those few dishes. Washed my face and brushed my teeth. No need for pain medication. Much less discomfort in the abdominal area today which I take the mean that the tissues severed at the four small incisions are getting back together satisfactorily. I will not go overboard with activity. I will walk around in the apartment, in the apartment hallway where there is a chair rail at a good height for helping to balance one if one feels tilty. I am happy to have one window open completely, another one open a few inches, because it is 57 now. However, it's supposed to only get to 61, so I may have to close that wide open one some, if it gets breezy.

Thanks for every single prayer, all the love and concern.

A Current Monday Morning Photo!

I took this photo a little while ago with my iPhone 5 so that I could have something current on here! Lamont and Leland's friends Lance and Kendra gave me this superb wall hanging and a couple of other nice items on Saturday, by way of Leland, I think--I was still groggy when I got home from the hospital. Thanks, you two! Congrats on the baby on the way!

I slept fine last night, even with a couple of short naps during the day, woke up at 6 a.m. hungry. Ate a little bit of oatmeal. No pain medication needed--hallelujah! Took a shower without any consequence other than being clean. Decided I wanted some hot tea, thus the photo opportunity. I got that wonderful mug some months ago at the Goodwill Super Store near where I work, walked down there on my lunch hour one day. What a fantastic find for a fan like me!

Lamont and Leland took turns being here yesterday, with some overlap for super hero movies on FX; I watched and/or dozed and thoroughly enjoyed peeking at my sweet sons, all day long. Lamont spent the night and just left to go to work for a few hours. He'll be back later before he needs to head home to get ready to go to the Blazers' vs the Grizzlies game this evening. Leland will come here after he gets off work and stay throughout the basketball game which we desperately need to win. Go, Blazers!

Later on I'll eat some of the baked chicken Lamont got off the bone for me--Leland picked it up at Fred Meyer on Saturday at Freddie's, along with a few other items. I've been eating it with plain rice, but yesterday I asked Leland to buy some russet potatoes and carrots which Lamont has scrubbed, wrapped in foil, put onto the cookie sheet and placed in the oven for baking. I'll check on them after the timer goes off. They will go very well with the baked chicken. By tomorrow, I should be able to eat something like a hamburger from The Blue Diamond! They've said they will deliver to me! And some folks from work put some funds on the books there, in my name, for just that purpose. Thanks, y'all!

Unless something unexpected happens during the day, I shall be A-OK by myself tonight and in the morning. Today, when I feel like I need a nap, I'll take one. No over-doing it for me, period. I'll wait until one of the sons is here to walk a short distance in the hallway of the apartment building. It is supposed to be 77 here today. Maybe I'll go, with help and support, out the front door onto the sidewalk in the sunshine! I promise, no over-doing it for me, so do not be alarmed at my maybe.

Thanks for your continued prayers and concern and love. We don't expect any biopsy news until late this week, so, until then, no news is good news!

Seen at the NBA Playoffs at the Rose Garden, April 21, 2011.

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My first-ever NBA play off game, in person! I turned up, all excited and not knowing what to expect, certainly not someone in a rabbit suit wearing a Martel Webster jersey and being photographed by other fans. Fun!



The first syncopated drum group I ever heard, back in my old Southeast Portland neighborhood in the summer of 2006 when they were in a parade. When I walked up and heard them, I got so excited! I love their sound! Google and find videos of them on YouTube--The Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers. They are superb! I am somewhat disappointed in the perspective of my photos of them outside the Rose Garden Arena--what the name of the building used to be where the Portland Trail Blazers play their home games. I should have joined those people seen in the shade on the right edge of the photo; I'll bet they got some great photos along the drum line.



Once inside, I found the balcony that used to overlook the arena campus. I heard the LRSD, looked over, and took a few photos. I took this at 6:01 p.m.; the game probably started a little after 7:30 p.m.



A closer shot of the LRSD in action. I like this photo!



Blurry, but still fun and representative of the enthusiasm of Blazers' fans! I cannot remember if I discovered why they were looking towards where I was sitting, but the game wouldn't begin for almost on hour and a half, so they had plenty of time to look around, watching people just like I was doing. The lady on the right is pointing out something which she evidently finds delightful and wants to be sure those two with her get to see it, too. I wonder what I missed by not looking that direction? The next photo in line gives no clue.



Each fan got one of these special noisemakers as we entered the arena. Talk about fun to shake and make a loud drumming noise!



Closer look at this fun little item which I still have!



Before games and at the end of half time, this inflated, remotely controlled Ford flies around the arena, intermittently dropping coupons for random items, DVDS, caps, I cannot remember whatall because I don't pay attention. Where I sit the Ford doesn't fly, in my opinion because it wouldn't take long for some exuberant fan to fall from the 300 level while attempting to catch a small piece of paper falling this way, falling that way, enticing folks to act foolishly with no regard for their safety. I'm thankful that I don't sit where this happens, though the next season when I had my first season ticket seat on the front row of that 300 level, a man on the row behind me foolishly thought that a T-shirt shot from the basketball court from a giant slingshot operated by three members of the Portland Trail Blazer Stunt Team would be within his reach. The guy landed on my left shoulder and that side of my head. I looked at him sideways and said, "Get off me." He did.



Chiropractor fodder, some of these folks bending their heads back as they watch the inflated Ford fly. Notice the noisemakers? A couple of people appear to be shaking them for all they're worth already, and tip-off is still about an hour away!



Part of the magic witnessed when the home team introductions took place at the Rose Garden Arena. Go, Blazers!



Blazers win! Blazers win! That's what game announcer Mark Mason said after the Blazers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 97-92. We won the next home game on April 23, 84-82, but lost the series after Dallas won the next two games in Dallas.

Since I'm having surgery on April 24, I doubt I'll get to attend any of the Trail Blazers' first-round playoff games this season. If we make it out of the first round, I may get to go. The Blazers must play astronomically better than they did in Memphis on Sunday night for that to happen.