Blog-portunities

Happy National Pumpkin Day! 

[Tonto for Halloween]

This week has been all about preparing for the NBA season and the upcoming holidays. I wrapped up my required writing for the rest of this month (which I hope to devote to my dissertation) before the regular season tips off. Please visit my Rants for my latest, and here are my most recent articles since I last shared my posts:

Elaine J. Dispo | NBA 

• Calderón Countdown
• Vinsanity at Linsanity Nation
• Coach’s DNPs
• Top 5 Mavs Champs *slideshow*

Elaine J. Dispo | Clubhouse

• Top 15 DCC *slideshow* <– by popular demand, I extended from Top 5 to 15 featured slides

Plus, I started submitting workout videos to the Pretty Fit iPhone app. When I Skyped with the app creator the other day, we discussed my collaboration on her blog, so I’m excited about potentially sharing more fitness tips! Here are my original Pretty Fit pic and my new one:

[Take me to the gun show!]

[Current Pretty Fit profile]

Let’s try this Pumpkin Crock Pot recipe from Tone It Up! Below is a snapshot of this Cat Trick-or-Treat recipe that I may give a shot, courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis‘ Giada at Home, that I watched earlier while dog-sitting. I’m also stoked about carving my pumpkin with a unique design…

[Black Cat Pop]

Now I’m hyped about Halloween and the festivities that follow. So far, I found my costume for tonight’s party and look forward to dressing up the animals!

[Asia & crow]

[Annie & me + owl]

[Dax & Jade + yours truly] 

Shoutouts:

• Happy Birthday to my Dad yesterday!

• Thank GOD my Lil’ Orphan Annie is in purrfect health, according to her vet, Dr. Price, from Windmill Animal Hospital, which is the Best Pet Care Anyhere… And it smells good too!

1:11 ~ make a wish!!!

Soothing the Soul & Sole

I wrapped up last night 🌙 & kicked 👟 off 🏈 today ☀️ just right 😎

💄 #BeautyTip: 👛 @ 😲 #bedtime 😵 lather #hands 👏 & #feet 👣 in #lotion then wrap hands 👋 in #mittens or #gloves & feet in #socks to seal in moisture to keep #ManiPedi 💅 #skin 👍 #soft 👌 & #smooth 👊 + #warm ✌️ while 😴 #sleeping 💤

#SpiritualHealth #Tip: @ 🌇 #RiseAndShine 🌅 do #PrayerStretches through #BreathPrayers while holding each #stretch [while I #pray 🙏 the #Rosary 🌹 that’s 50+ total #stretches]

Dispo-tation

Now that my blog for Rant Sports is in full swing, I seriously must get on the ball with my dissertation. As a Ph.D. candidate who completed my comprehensive exams and doctoral coursework last year, I’m ABD (All But Dissertation). If any of you who read this have achieved an ultimate dream like finishing your terminal degree, your suggestions on time management for me to become Doctor would be greatly appreciated.

When I taught at South Texas College, I asked two of my colleagues for the keys to them unlocking their goal of graduating with their doctorate. Theirs were:

Perseverance ~ Dr. Rosalinda Cantú

Endurance ~ Dr. Roksana Alavi

Dr. Cantú was my former boss for our Communication Arts department, and Dr. Alavi was my next-door office neighbor who also used her “endurance” when she happened to run one of the same races with me, the Fiesta 5K, back in 2009. Even though we’ve gone our separate ways since then, these two mentors’ messages still resonate in my mind as I muster up my focus.

Another South Texas colleague, who I would fondly call “Thaddeus,” as he was named after St. Jude and with whom I was connected because he was also in his 20s when he went through grad school for his doctoral program, also gave me these two-cents that are worth abundantly more:

We all have our own crosses to bear ~ Dr. George Thaddeus Díaz

My Pinoy friend, Sammy Antonio, who is from my father’s province and now lives in the RGV after teaching at Pangasinan State University, provided me with this advice, as his wife is also pursuing her Ph.D.:

You will hitch your wagon to the stars. * ~ Professor Sammy Antonio

Meanwhile, I pass along to you my freshest Dallas Mavericks Hoop Scoops and more NFL and college football Ball Calls — lucky “No. 13” since my last post:

Elaine J. Dispo | NBA 

• “V” for Vince Carter, Vinsanity, Victory vs. Memphis Grizzlies
• Breaking News: Brandan Wright Out, Return Uncertain
• NBA 2013 Preseason Week 2 Preview for Dallas Mavericks
• Mavs Must Shoot to Score After NBA Preseason Game 3
• DeJuan Blair: Western Conference Champion Crosses I-35
• Mavs’ Matrix Sets Pace Against Indiana Pacers
• “Nowellis”: New Dallas Mavericks’ Dynamic Duo

Elaine J. Dispo | Clubhouse

• 1 on 1 with the Dallas Mavericks: *slideshow*
• America’s Sweethearts Top 5 DCC *slideshow* <– my fave Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders includes one from my old neck of the woods, the Valley
• Breaking News: Mark Cuban’s Insider Trading Trial Verdict

Elaine J. Dispo | NFL

• Deion Sanders: “Prime Time” out of Prime Press
• Baylor Bears Reunion: Dallas Cowboys’ Terrance Williams & Washington Redskins’ RG3
• Case Keenum’s First NFL Start for Houston Texans Spark <– from my stomping grounds, Abilene, Texas

I’m also proud to share my *True Blue* pit bull Sweet Pea’s latest fanatics:

True Blue K9s Sweet Pea the Pit Bull & Dax the Shih Tzu

True Blue K9 Sweet Pea the Pit Bull

True Blue K9 Sweet Pea in Ball Cap

True Blue K9 Sweet Pea Tongue Wagging

True Blue K9 Sweet Pea Out for Blood

True Blue K9 Sweet Pea Mad-Dog Cheezin’

True Blue K9 Sweet Pea 1/2-sies

True Blue K9 Sweet Pea In the Zone

True Blue K9 Sweet Pea On ALL 4s

True Blue K9 Sweet Pea Licks Yours Truly

True Blue K9 Sweet Pea’s Touchdown Treat

True Blue K9 Sweet Pea Game Mode

3:33 ~ make a wish!!!

Dispo-sition

As I get into the groove with my Rant Sports blog, I branched out my reports beyond my Dallas Mavericks into football – both college and the NFL – from the games I attended this past weekend. First, I’ll share my pre-preseason* pieces followed by last weekend’s adventure** articles then the two freshly pressed posts*** from today that cover the preseason so far!

* Elaine J. Dispo | NBA Pre-Preseason Hoop Hopes

• Media Day *slideshow*
• D for Defense in Dallas
• Tipoff Trio: DMV

Elaine J. Dispo | Clubhouse 

• Mavs’ Tats *slideshow*
• ** McMurry in D2 – LSC

Elaine J. Dispo | NFL

• ** Dallas & Denver QBs

*** Elaine J. Dispo | NBA Preseason Hoop Hype 

• Preseason Home Opener
• Preseason Road Opener

Here are highlights from JRob’s Bday/Game Weekend:

Annie’s Belated Birthday 

JRob’s Birthday 

McMurry Homecoming 

Dallas Cowboys Game 

11:11 ~ make a wish!!!