THANKS, Love & Basketball

With THANKSgiving just a couple of days away, I’ll share with you my latest posts (please remember that views and clicks on my Rant Sports articles determine my pay), as well as my days of giving thanks! THANK y’all for checking out my material/Maraming Salamat/¡Muchas Gracias! Wish you all a Happy Turkey Day and HOLYdays if you celebrate!

Pretty Fit Elaine

• 2 4 1 Tuesday Workouts
• Welcome to my Kitchen

Dispo Hoop Scoops

• Home Court Advantage
• Shane Larkin, Pro Baller
• Mavs as All-Stars *slideshow*
• Dirk Nowitzki, No. 15
• Coach Impersonation *video*
• Matrix’s Injury Concern
• Next Mavs’ Opponents *slideshow*

Dispo College Hoop Scoops 

Butler Since Brad Stevens

More Dispo Rant Sports Fun ~ Slideshows

• Top 5 NBA 2013-14 Ballers Bawlers *slideshow*
• Top 5 Hottest Working Women in Sports *slideshow* 

Giving THANKS 

Day 19: I’m THANKful for my #OurLadyOfTheLakeUniversity🏤 #LeadershipStudiesfamily* who’ve embarked on our journey toward our Ph.D. & those who support yours truly in my goal. ¡Gracias/Thank Y’all Team: Dr. D! *Much appreciation to my professor Dr. Phyllis Duncan, graduates of the program Drs. Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa, Alex Garza, Ram DelaRosa, & Melinda Garcia + my classmates Diana Lucio, Alicia Presas, Jaime Rodriguez, Tozi Gutierrez, Deborah I. Swenson Valle & @SonjaPreston (guess I maximized tags) for keeping our dreams🌠 alive to make them a reality!🌅 #Faith #Hope️ #Love

Day 20: I’m THANKful for the right to #vote – which I did on #ElectionDay 15 days ago – & now ask y’all to exercise that right by #voting for the #2014NBAAllStarGame#DallasMavericks

http://www.rantsports.com/nba/2013/11/19/top-6-dallas-mavericks-who-should-appear-in-nba-2014-all-star-game/

NBAAllStars󾭪 #NBA󾟖 Let our #voice󾠀 be heard󾆑

Day 21: I’m THANKful for my #AdorationHour so I can serve the LORD through obligation of holy time w/Him & encourage others to commit

Day 22: I’m THANKful for the #ReasonForTheSeason! #Luke📖 2:7️~ “And Mary brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”🏩#TheFirstCHRISTmas To top it off, the #HOLYdays have #kickoff🏈 here w/the#tipoff🏀 of #ice❄️ & #snow️ ~ so #StaySafeAndWarm while I jam🎧 out to#HOLYday #jingles! — listening to The Best Man Holiday.

Day 23: I’m THANKful for my ☀️Sunshine, who’s been taking me from Point A to Point B➡️ for exactly 41 months today! As Toby Keith sings in “I Love This Bar”: “I Like My Truck,” I actually LOVE my truck, as GOD✌️ has always blessed us on our merry way!

Day 24: I’m THANKful for my sister, Joanne Dispo, MSN, PMHNP, whose birthday is today! She’s one of the most generous & thoughtful people who I know, so may GOD bless her always ♥ Lola Rosa used to tell me: “You’re only 2,” meaning she’s the only blood sister who I have & to make the most of my time w/her…

I’m also THANKful for my fellow #USAF #MilitaryBrats Birthday Boys Davon Curry &Victor Rodriguez, who both have special places in my heart ♥ DBo & I used to write ol’ school letters when he was stationed out-of-state back in h.s. before social media was around + still inspires me to go #BeastMode to this very day! Vic was stationed in Germany where I was born, was kind to escort me to Winter Formal once, attended our Cooper High 10-yr reunion although he graduated elsewhere & hit a couple of #DallasMavericks games w/me!

Maligayang Bati/¡Feliz Cumpleaños!/HBD, 11/24 Babies =D

1:11 ~ make a wish!!!

Oh yeah… & I’m THANKful for the #DallasCowboys who play today &#THANKSgiving Day. #GoCOWBOYS =D #HowBoutEmBOYS

Day 25: I’m #THANKful for my thousands of #college #students who have taught me#life #lessons, including those who I heard & #learned from most recently: Jose Luis Rodriguez for props as his #professor, Noe Garcia for providing me with useful information for my #doctoral #dissertation, Jess Ryan Mason for reading my #sports#stories* & Luis Vasquez for the #THANKSgiving #greetings. #THANK you all, ¡#Muchas #Gracias! Now I #reminisce about when I’d have THANKSgiving #fiestasin class, a #tradition started by Brenda Blackmon, who cleverly suggested this spectacular idea & Alyssa Cantu, who graciously #cooked our #delicious 1st THANKSgiving #turkey =D I #LOVE & miss all of my students, who I #wish the best ♥

*Please check my main #blog: http://www.rantsports.com/blog/author/elainedispo/󾟖󾟝

Day 26: I’m THANKful for being caught up with work for the month, so now I can spend the rest of THANKSgiving week working on my doctoral dissertation + visiting w/my family & friends! #LifeIsGood

• My #NBA󾟖 #slideshow article for #KicksAndGrins is:http://www.rantsports.com/nba/2013/11/25/nba-top-5-early-season-crybabies-in-2013-14/
• My latest #RantGirls󾟝 #slideshow to #tipoff󾟖 today & wrap up󾔐 #November:http://www.rantsports.com/clubhouse/2013/11/26/top-5-hottest-influential-babes-in-sports-business/ (please remember your views & clicks determine my pay)

11:11 ~ make a wish!!!

Black Monday

Today, I wear black to honor the Typhoon Haiyan/Typhoon Yolanda victims. My shirt is actually a black Hard Rock Cafe Saigon tee from Vietnam, where the storm approached after it hit my native country, the Philippines.

Today also is my Papa Ped‘s 5th Death Anniversary. Even to this day, I miss my hardworking paternal grandfather, Pedro T. Dispo, Sr. (June 27, 1927-November 18, 2008) very much and will always remember him fondly.

Today, I also had my latest conference call with my dissertation chair. As long as I keep making progress and stay on track, I may be able to move forward in the upcoming year: proposal, methods, results, defense left… To become Dr. D.

My Latest Days of THANKS

Day 14: I’m THANKful for the Typhoon Haiyan / Typhoon Yolanda survivors and relief efforts

Day 15: I’m THANKful for my Lil’ Orphan ANNIE on our 4th Annie-versary

Lil’ Orphan ANNIE’s 1st Snow on CHRISTmas

Day 16: I’m THANKful for my Rant Sports team, whose Facebook pages, including mine, I encourage you to “like” for updates

• Elaine Dispo’s Ball Calls & Hoop Scoops
• Chris Gamble’s NFL & MLB Rants
• Kris Hughes, Senior Ranter
• Courtney Harden’s Chicago Bulls Hoop Scoops
• Candice Connell’s Chicago Bulls Hoop Scoops
• Michael Pidgeon’s SA Spurs Hoop Scoops

Day 17: I’m THANKful for my first day “off” this month, in which I took off from writing for work to attend Sunday mass, then had brunch with Ate and watched The Best Man Holiday, plus hit the track (my only form of “work” was to “workout”) with Ate, Jade and Dax!

Dax’s & my scenic route w/sunshine view

Day 18: I’m THANKful for my Papa Ped on his 5th Anniversary and my good friend/fellow USAF military brat, Nora, on her Birthday

Papa Ped, Mama Eufemia, Papa Jun, Joanne & me

On lighter notes, I watched and thoroughly enjoyed The Best Man Holiday this past weekend, and here are my latest Pretty Fit and Rant Sports posts:

Pretty Fit Elaine

Man Day Monday

Dispo College Hoop Scoops 

Miami Since Shane Storm

Dispo Hoop Scoops

• Matrix’s Demand for D
• Nowellis During Reg Season
• Mavericks Take Miami 
• Larkin’s Dallas Debut Delayed

1:11 ~ make a wish!!!

More Thanks + Hoop Scoops & Ball Calls

Happy Hump Day!

In the wake of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda, my family and agreed not to exchange CHRISTmas presents this year, as we have enough to be grateful for. The people who I will give something to are the children who I sponsor: the girl who my sister found for me in the Philippines through Christian Foundation of Children and Aging and the girl who I picked from my Church’s Angel Tree. You also have the opportunity to contribute to the relief from this devastation: World Food Programme…

Bearing this in mind, here are my latest Days of THANKS:

Day 12: I’m THANKful for GOD’s calling and gifts, in particular for my service to the Church, where I’ll put my public speaking skills and voice to good use again, as a lector at mass (previously used to sing in the choir/music ministry and teaching speech at the college level)

Day 13: I’m THANKful for good health, so I spread the wealth in my wellness articles and  contributions to the Pretty Fit app and blog 

Speaking of my blog, here are my latest Rant posts:

Elaine Dispo’s Hoop Scoops – Mavs

• Monta Ellis Revenge in Milwaukee
• Mavs’ 1 @ Home, More on the Road
• Dirk’s No. 16 of NBA All-Time Scorers
• DeJuan Blair, Better off with Mavs

Elaine Dispo’s Ball Calls – Dallas Cowboys

• Saints & Drew Brees Breeze through Cowboys

3:33 ~ make a wish!!!

Veterans’ Salute, Typhoon Blues + More Bits & Pieces for You…

Happy Veterans’ Day!

In the spirit of THANKSgiving, here are my most recent Days of Gratitude…

Day 7: I’m THANKful for good company, including Auntie Mary & Uncle Ken, who Auntie Tina & I visited today (Thursday, 11/7)

Day 8: I’m THANKful for the animals in my life, especially my Double A-Team ~ Asia & Annie (whose 4-year anniversary is on the 15th) + my sister Joanne’s Yorkie Coco + my Ate Roxy’s K9s Jade & Dax + the Gunns’ dogs Sweet Pea, Minx & Blackie

Day 9: I’m THANKful for good leadership – which I’m studying for my Ph.D. – including the inspiration behind my research, Coach K, who I wrote about in my Dispo College Hoops Scoops debut (below)

Day 10: I’m THANKful for  mi cuñada, Janet, who was my best friend when I lived in the Valley, and whose children are mis sobrinitos, with her son, Justin, being the closest to a son I’ve ever had

Day 11:  I’m THANKful for our military on this Veterans Day, which I elaborate as follows…

The military in my life who I honor on Veterans Day, Military Appreciation Day and everyday in between include:

* my great-uncle Terry, who retired from the United States Navy

My fave Sailor Man

* my dad, who retired from the United States Air Force over two decades ago

Dispo Airmen

Jeryl, USAF

* my cousin, Jeryl, who just graduated from USAF Basic Training school

Military Salute

Dad, Cuz & Bro

* my brother-in-law, Ryan, who served in the United States Marine Corps
* “lil’ bro” Eric, Ryan’s brother, who is serving in the USAF
* my best friend, Melody, from the United States Army who may train to become an Officer now that she has her Bachelor’s degree

I also wrote a tribute to salute another veteran who I admire, whose leadership inspired my own research for my dissertation about coaches and student-athletes: Duke Blue Devils head basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski, who served in the Army. Bearing this in mind, here are my latest Dispo Hoop Scoops

Dispo College Hoops Scoops
* Debut: Coach K, Basketball & Life Leader

Dispo NBA Hoop Scoops
* Mavs to Strike Lightning at Thunder
* Kevin Durant Has D Best Role Model
* Vince Carter Mans Up to Ejection
* DeJuan Blair Should Start as Center
* JJ Barea Reunion at Minnesota

Also, here are my Pretty Fit posts:
Pretty Fit Elaine D
* Thursday Tips
* Friday Thigh Day
* Saturday Stress Relief

Let us pray for those who were affected by Typhoon Haiyan that just hit my native country, the Philippines. I reached out to my relatives who live there to find out whether they’re safe and sound, so thank GOD for the ones who responded to me with the affirmative!

This throwback pic depicts my homesickness for the Philippines and my former home en el Valle, the Rio Grande Valley, that is. My former student/fellow Filipino snapped this shot as I also was camera-happy at our Filipiniana gala, where I covered the story for Fil-Am Press.

¡Feliz Cumplé a mi Cuñada en el Valle hoy!

11:11 ~ make a wish!!!

Wellness Wednesday

Happy Hump Day and 6th Day of THANKSgiving!

First of all, I’ll update you on my giving THANKS…

Day 5: I’m THANKful for GOD’s will and grace. (And yes, after I wrote these out on my prayer petition paper at my church’s Adoration Chapel yesterday, I realized that I wrote a TV show title: Will & Grace — but I’m sure you know what I mean.)

Day 6: I’m THANKful for joining the Pretty Fit App Team! That way, I can use this opportunity to spread the wealth of health all around…

I’ve been super productive since the month of November kicked off, starting out with cranking out 10 articles in 5 days for Rant Sports*, as well as debuting my fitness posts for Pretty Fit App**! Here are my latest pieces for both:

* Elaine J. Dispo | NBA

• Steve Nash’s Reunion 
• Carlisle vs. D’Antoni

** Elaine | Pretty Fit App

• Tuesday Introduce Day
• Wednesday Workout Warmup

While I write about team goals for my Dallas Mavericks, I realize that we all could heed the advice of maintaining momentum in our own goals. The same goes for my tips on Pretty Fit to enrich every part of us: our bodies, our minds, our hearts and our souls.

Now speaking of goals and souls, it’s time for me to get the ball rolling on my dissertation…

Oh yeah, and I’m also grateful for the right to vote, which I did yesterday on Election Day!

1:11 ~ make a wish!!! 

On the 4th Day of THANKSgiving…

So I’ll go join in on #GivingTHANKS, so let me catch up on the 1st 4 Days of #THANKSgiving:

Day 1

: I’m THANKful for my NANAY who just retired as a Registered Nurse 😷 ❤

Day 2

: I’m THANKful for my productivitym  ✒️ in my #dissertation 📖 & from my blogging 📓 #career, including my #sports 🏈 #rants 🏀through my Dispo Hoop Scoops * & my #fitness 👟 #tips 👣 through #PrettyFit 🙂

Day 3

: THANKful for my supportive DAD ✈️ who just celebrated his Bday w/his tennis buddy 🎾 besties =D

Day 4

: I’m THANKful for yummy food, including from my track 🌳 partner 🌅 Ate Roxy, who provided coffee ☕️ & breakfast 🍩 this morning ☀️

* My Latest Mavs Rants

• Vince Carter, Best Sixth Man & Hopeful HOF

• Dallas Mavericks = World Class Performers, People

• Dallas Mavericks’ Key to Success

• Dallas Mavericks Must Go Full Force

• Shane Larkin, Rookie to Play Soon

+ more wonderful news: I’ll also start sharing my Dispo Hoop Scoops on College Hoops soon!

GOD’s 🙏 peace ✌️ & joy be w/y’all, my friends 💖

4:44 Pacific Standard Time ~ make a wish!!!

Hoop, Halloween & Holiday Hype

Happy All Saints Day! Hope you all enjoyed your Halloween festivities if you celebrated Boo Ghoul-style and have fun if you’re decking the halls this HOLYday season…

As for myself, NBA season is in full swing, so I tipped off this month of November with a triple-decker and may add College Hoops to my Dispo Hoop Scoops:

Elaine J. Dispo | NBA

* Matrix’s Tipoff Speech
* Dirk’s Mavs Mix
* Monta Basketball in Dallas

Plus, we’re about to launch the Pretty Fit App site full blast, so please check out my Pretty Fit Team bio. You can install the Pretty Fit app from iTunes.

Last, but not least, here are my Halloween photos, starring:

* Asia as Cookie Monster, Annie as Elmo
* Double-A Team as Black Cat & Pumpkin
* Jade & Dax as Black Cat & Pumpkin
* Pumpkin as Dallas Cowboys Jack O’Lantern (star eyes and nose, football mouth plus accessories – ball cap, headband, earrings, paraband for teeth)
* Yours Truly as Tonto with Arrowhead my Crow (won the USPFO Halloween 2013 Ladies’ Costume Contest – ironically, dressed as a man) ~ Kemosabe, baby!

Shoutout: Happy Retirement to my Mom!

Now back to cracking and cranking out my dissertation…

2:22 ~ make a wish!!!