Tear jerker

Watching "Love and Basketball."

Cameo by Tyra Banks. Good trivia.

All's fair in love and basketball.

Crying.

Love this movie.

Rent it.

New look...same taste

When I was probably 13 years old, my mom took me to the store to buy new sneakers. She encouraged me to try on a sweet pair of pink Velcro high tops. Being the tom boy that I was, I refused and opted for solid black, Velcro high-tops instead. Also sweet.

The point of this story is that I used to hate pink. Now I love it for all its girly deliciousness. So, enjoy the new look.

xoxoL

Let's hear it for the boys

Here's a story a wrote for today's newspaper.

It's just amazing to me what science has allowed us to do. What's even more incredible to me is what our hearts are capable of enduring.

Sgt. Dayne "Darren" Dhanoolal will be laid to rest in Killeen, Texas, on Friday. Prayers, thoughts, moments of silence, whatever you can spare would certainly be appreciated by this grieving family.

xoxoL

Tea...the new coffee?

I certainly think so, for a number of reasons.

First, coffee is highly acidic so it upsets sensitive tummies like mine and, I'd venture to guess, my co-worker Brad's. This alone is why I made an almost complete switch to tea. And no, I don't mean the sweet stuff. But check this out.

My kitchen cabinet, once overflowing with stacks of Keurig coffee pods, is now packed with delicious teas in a myriad of flavors. This is mostly thanks to my mother-in-law, Carole, who recently visited Stash in Tigard, Ore.

There they sell loose and bagged tea, baked goods, kettles, presses, books, infusers and more. If you're planning a trip to Portland, I'd say include Stash on your list of places to visit. I certainly will.

Suicide lamps and crunchy bodies

My co-worker, Alan, just told me a story that is both so disgusting and so true to the south.

On balmy spring and summer nighs in Selma, Ala., millions of flys swarm to the street lamps in town and die. Left on the sidewalks are thick, crunchy blankets of carcasses. After the build-up, firefighters break out the shovels to plow away the bodies, like a New Englander shoveling snow after a nor'easter.

Here in Columbus, you can't take a step outside during the summer without witnessing the scurrying of the roaches. It's sort of like the running of the bulls in Pamplona, only we are the bulls and the roaches are us. Could there be hidden a deeper universal meaning here? Think about it.

xoxoL

Ode to Dave

This is Dave. He's a weimaraner pretending to be an Army lieutenant. It is my most sincere hope that you find this ridiculous photo as funny as I do.

Morgan and I adopted Dave about two years ago. He went from being a 30 pound puppy who loved to be held like a baby and chew on momma's nice shoes to a 100 pound pony who still likes to be held like a baby and is currently on a diet because momma over-feeds him.

Yes, I am one of those "parents" that rewards my "kid" with delicious treats. Sad, but true. I am, however, slowly changing both our habits--my giving and his eating--because I know Dave's health could be at risk. This scenario can be loosely applied to the nation-wide situation pertaining to childhood obesity. Our kids are fat and they're only getting heavier. Since the 80s, the percentage of children and teens that are overweight has more than doubled, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Today, about 17 percent of American children ages 2-19 are overweight.

It's not about aesthetics really. Although studies have shown that teens with healthy body mass indexes are more self confident and happy than those who are overweight. Obesity is also linked to a myriad of health problems from diabetes to cancer to heart disease. So, get up and get moving. Set a good example and your friends, children and hopefully fat dogs will follow.

xoxoL

ACHOOOO!

The red, watery eyes. The itchy inner ears. The glorious and abundant snot rockets. It must be allergy season!

According to Columbus, Ga., allergist Robert C. Cartwright, M.D., "allergy season" is actually allergy half year in the south. For the next six months yours truly, along with millions of other sufferers, will be sneezing their way to a tighter core. That's actually the only advantage to this sloppy and uncomfortable condition.

Here's the deal: The spring brings powdery tree pollen. The summer months bring prehistoric-sized mosquitoes and grass allergens. And, just when you thought you were over the worst of it, ragweed gets ya in the fall.

Cartwright's advice: Try not to spend too much time outside when the pollen count is wicked high. For those of us who have jobs and responsibilities, get yourself on an antihistamine like over the counter Zyrtec. If you don't like polluting your body with medication read this.

Whatever path you choose, Cartwright suggests you see a specialist first. Get the tests. Figure out what you're allergic to then treat it.

One final piece of advice: Carry tissues with you at all times. Don't wipe your runny nose on your sleeve. Interestingly enough, most people don't find that sexy or hygienic at all.

xoxoL