Thanksgiving Festivities

As Mrs McGoo stated on her blog, the McGoo's decided to stay home this year for Thanksgiving.  A lot of intangibles went into the decision, but this was the first time I hadn't been back home for Thanksgiving (with the exception of one trip to KC) since I was in my 20's.  So a long time.

This time around we stayed in town and celebrated the holiday with Mrs McGoo's family.  I questioned my mother-in-law (The Grinch) if we were having a ham on Thanksgiving.  I've learned that it isn't something that everyone does (which is strange to me - I like ham more than turkey really), and she told me that she wasn't.  I quickly complained about this issue and somehow she mental ninja'd me into deep frying a turkey and she would take care of the ham. 

Reluctantly I agreed to cook the turkey.  So I set out to Costco to get the oil and fixins for a marinade/seasoning for the turkey.  Costco's options were - cheap kirkland's veggie oil, corn oil, and canola oil - all of which made for a tough decision.  I've only cooked with veggie oil, so I went with the cheap oil.

The night before I stayed with the in-laws so I could prepare the turkey and get it all lathered up with seasoning and some marinade.


The next morning I fire up the cooker and get the oil heating up and go into get the bird out of the fridge to room temperature.  I figure it should take about 40 mins or so for the oil to come to a boil.  Equally, it should take about as long to get a few things taken care of in the kitchen. 




About 40 mins go by and I check on the oil and it is still not boiling.  I check the temp and it's showing around 350 degrees so I decided to let it go for a little longer.  Went back out a little while later and still not boiling and it reads close to 400 degrees.  I begin to start to wonder what is going on and think that maybe I need to cover it and as I go to cover, it combusted. 

I sat there for a while and began to wonder what happened.  I'm thinking through everything I did and it was correct.  Took every precaution that I could and still it caught fire.  Thankfully I didn't have the bird in the cooker at the time and began to think about what I could do to "Save Thanksgiving."  Thankfully, MILC went inside and found her roaster and we threw the bird in there, cooked it, and finished just in time for the rest of the family dinner time. 

While we're getting the bird cleaned up a bit, my father-in-law Lloyd and the rest of the fam are outside taking a fire extinguisher to the pot of burning oil.  Apparently there was a bit of a small explosion which led to a few small burns on his hand.  Thankfully it wasn't anything serious and eventually the fire died out. 

Thankfully, the Wilson's saved Thanksgiving.  Which is quite ironic really when you think about it. 

Didn't the Grinch save Christmas too?

A Year Gone By

Hard to believe it's been a year since my last post.  Truth is, there were plenty of times I felt like blogging, however, every time I went to do so, I saw my last post, read it, and didn't want it to become just another post.  As time went by, I felt like I'd wait and come back and reassess things after a year.

I recently told Mrs McGoo that Monday, the 19th, was a year since Kodi had passed away.  A lot has happened in that time, yet it still seems like it was a a few weeks ago that it happened.  Still miss the guy like crazy and there are so many times I still look when I wake up in the morning to see if he is laying on his bed. 

I still miss ya buddy.

So it has been a year since I last blogged and I figured I would document (somewhat) what has gone on in our lives since the last time I posted.

- I met one of my lifelong goals last December by graduating from college and, in fact, did it in three and a half years.  Really big thanks goes out to Mrs. McGoo for being an incredible supporter of the venture.  Honestly, it is something I had wanted to do for a long time and never thought it would be possible.

- After Kodi passed away, we felt like we wanted to wait for the right time to get another dog.  I wanted to really be able to grieve and also give Dexter a lot of time and attention that I felt like he should get. However, we realized after a while, Dex didn't like the idea of being alone.  All Dex has ever known was having a brother to play with around the house, so when we left the house, Dex was all alone. He started acting out a lot and tearing things up, which led us to believe he was lonely.  So we talked and felt like it was a good time to get him another brother. 

Enter "Tango" our new puppy.  There is a story behind how we went about getting him and how we came up with his name, but I'll save that for another blog.  Needless to say, he's been a great addition to the family.

- Mission Trips to Ethiopia and Uruguay.

- Mrs. McGoo one more year of Nursing school.

- Obama re-elected

Hopefully a lot more happening in the next year.  If the Mayans were wrong...

I'm confident they were.

Until next time.

Kodi

Saturday morning I was awoken at 6am with a call from the vet.  As I was half asleep and prepared to hear how my dog, Kodi was doing, she stunned me by saying, "I'm sorry Mr McGugan, Kodi passed away last night."  As I lay in bed on the phone, Mrs. McGoo, who was getting ready for school, walked in and sat on the bed next to me.  She could tell in my voice and the conversation that the news wasn't good.  I got off the phone and immediately started tearing up.  We embraced and I got up and put on some clothes to go to the vet to see him and speak to the vet.

I had taken Kodi to the vet Thursday, November 10 because I came home from Tulsa and he was limping pretty bad.  They took an X-ray and discovered he had arthritis in his front right leg and it was extremely swollen.  They gave us some medicine to administer and told us to let them know how he was doing at the beginning of the following week.  The next day, Friday, he stopped eating and acted like he was zoned out.  So we stopped giving him the meds and on Sunday, he began to eat and act right again.  I called the vet on Monday to give her an update and she told me to try one and not the other to see if it was the meds that caused it.  So we did and he went back to not eating and acting strange.  The rest of the week was a tough one for him as he didn't eat anything and just didn't quite act like the Kodi I came to know and love.  You could tell something was wrong.  So I took him back to the vet on Friday and they told me he was really dehydrated.  They gave him an IV of fluids and said to stop giving him the meds all together.  When we walked outside to get in to the car, Kodi stumbled quite a bit and had a hard time getting in the car.  When he was in, he looked glazed over and started breathing heavily.  I immediately knew something was up and took him back inside to get a double check.  The vet ran some blood tests on him and discovered he had pancreatic issues.  She suggested that they keep him over night and give him an IV of meds and try and heal his pancreas.  She said it was treatable, but they would know more from him in the next couple of days.

So I sat with Kodi for 45 mins while they did some other things and got a chance to love on him for a while.  It was very evident he wasn't feeling well and I wanted to make sure he knew I was there.  After I got the call the next morning that he had passed, I went up to the vet to talk to her.  She told me that he slept through the night and, because he was still very warm, had just recently passed away.  He looked very peaceful as if he fell into a deep sleep and never woke up.  Later I found out from the autopsy that Kodi had the beginning stages of Liver cancer.  It had dehydrated him, raised the levels of nitrogen in his blood (which led to being spaced out), and was affecting his pancreas.  They told me this type of cancer was called the "Great Pretender" due to the fact that there are no external signs of it.  The only way they can find it is by an biopsy and even then there are no guarantees he can survive it.  So Kodi passed away at a good time.  It was sooner than I was ready for and would have liked, but he wasn't in pain and had lived a full life.  He was simply not feeling well and fell into a forever sleep.  

I got Kodi when he was two weeks old from the animal shelter in late July 1999.  He has been by my side ever since.  I never thought I would feel as bad as I do, but the honest truth is, I'm crushed.  See, Kodi was a dog I didn't have to do much for.  He was well trained, wasn't all in your business, and loved people.  The only thing I had to do for Kodi was open the door for bathroom breaks and fill up his bowl for food.    I didn't need to calm him down when people came in, he'd just sniff them and get to know them better by sitting next to them.  I didn't need to worry about my food around him because he wouldn't touch it.

Kodi loved crawling up in my lap when I sat in my chair.   He would sit there for hours if you let him, so long as you were petting him.  I didn't need a leash to walk him, he'd stay right by my side.  He would sit in the kitchen if you were in there making food.  He would sit in the bathroom if you were in the shower.  He would sit outside the bathroom if you were in there cleaning up.  He slept at the foot of the bed and stayed by the bed if you were sick.

I've had a couple of times in my life where I felt pretty alone in life.  Before I met my incredible wife and before I came back to a relationship with the Lord, I lived by myself.  I had a few years where I was a pretty lonely person and Kodi was who I came home to and played with.  Through it all he was a constant in my house.  Always there to greet me with a wagging tail no matter what kind of a day I had.  I'd put my worries away for the night and have my best friend to spend some time with. 

See a theme?  No matter what it was in life, Kodi was always by my side. 

Although I simply wasn't ready for this day to be here, it makes me feel good that knowing the last few hours of his life were upon him, we were able to sit next to one another for a while.  I pet him and and loved on him, which in turn made him feel well enough to turn and give me a kiss.  In that room, I was able to do something for Kodi that he did for years, for me. 

Sit by his side.

By my side - Helping me capture a lizard

By my side - Making sure I didn't fall in

By her side - Giving "kisses" to Mamma

By my side - Content with a hug

By my side - Not liking the kiss

By my side - Dad, your hat looks dumb. Do I really have to take this picture?

Some people would say they've lost family pets.  I'm here to tell you, we lost a family member.

I miss you buddy.   

Thankful for Wildcats, the Letter K, & Redemption

In this season of giving thanks, I thought I'd post something I'm thankful for: my hometown, childhood, and current favorite team - The University of Kentucky Wildcats

Sure, I could have grown up in another city where they say that basketball is king, but God knew exactly where he wanted to place me.  He knew where greatness exists and what kind of environment I needed to grow up in. In this day and age of what have you done for me lately, we tend to forget that you have to look at the full body of work for a program and when you do that, Kentucky basketball simply cannot be matched.  That being said, I do remember what we've done lately.  75-65 Win last night.

I am also thankful for the letter K.  The letter K was certainly the main emphasis throughout the night before, during, and after the game last night.  Before it was Kool-ade, which is what I was drinking (and some may argue been drinking for a long time) before the game.  During it was Kentucky.  After it was a butt Kickin'.  Aside from my name, there really wasn't any other K of consequence last night.

I am also thankful for my influence over friends and family.  Had it not been for me, some of my closest family members, who were unfortunately not placed in great locations, would have grown up thinking that other programs where the greatest all time.  Statistics aside (who uses those as a means of proof anyway), I couldn't let them go through life without knowing TRUTH.

Friends.  I am proud to tell you today, we have seen the results of that very truth.  Aside from the fact that statistics prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that UK is the greatest program of all time, we now have other visual proof that even the most stubborn of folks want to hold out on that belief.

Exhibit A: (click link)
Notice the declaration for their new found love of the team.  Notice the asterisk leaving him an out (which is common for anyone with lack of faith aka:haters).  Notice the dates have passed on the pending investigation and nothing found.

Exhibit B: (click link)
See all statements from Exhibit A.

Subject has clearly gone from, what his grandson would call, Delusional, to a fan of the University of Kentucky.  "The Guy" even went so far as going to bed early last night because he knew the game was in hand and a comeback by the other team was a wasted effort.

Sweet dreams UK fans.  Sweet, Redemptive Dreams

Idol Worship?

I have been around the game of soccer for a long time.  I started playing when I was 5 years old and up until I joined the staff at the University of Memphis Men's Soccer team, I never took a season off.  Additionally, my childhood was comprised of other sports such as football, basketball, and baseball.  Needless to say, I spent a TON of time in my childhood playing sports.

Aspiring Wildcat to be

That being said, there were two days in particular which I hardly ever played or practiced.  Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights were always days/times reserved for church. Heck, even the youth leagues knew not to schedule games or practices during those times because people wouldn't show up.  When I got into coaching, much of this was still the same.  Sure there were times when I was playing or coaching that we would have a tournament or two that we had to be at and Sunday's might have a morning game with an afternoon one.  But this was not and every weekend situation.

I say all this because I have noticed a trend in youth sports nowadays.  There is never an off day or a day reserved for families to attend church.  Heck, now a lot of churches don't even schedule Wednesday night services because parents will be with their kids at games or practices.

My question is, when did this happen?

Coaching

A friend of mine, who I admire and respect greatly asked me a while back to pray for him and his family.  Ok...nothing new there.  But what he asked me to pray about was the kicker.  He said, "Kelly,our son is playing youth soccer and is really good.  We're about to get to that point where people are going to start wanting him to play competitive ball and I'm a bit worried.  You and I both know how much fun it is and how much we enjoyed it and quite frankly, I enjoy watching him play.  Please pray that we do not make an idol out of our son playing athletics."  He went on to add that he wanted to instil in this son that being at church and worshiping our Lord and Savior means more than playing in a youth sporting event.

Those words really struck me then and continue to resonate in me now.  It got me talking with Mrs. McGoo about how we'll be as parents.  If you didn't know, she was quite an athlete as well and we very much want our children growing up in team sports.  The values that are taught and ingrained into kids during their developmental years is invaluable.  While we don't have kids, we know plenty of folks who do and I've noticed a trend that comes with having them.  Kids first, spouse second, the Lord gets what's left.

If that's not idol worship, I don't know what is?!?!  I had the opportunity to tell that to someone recently...that he's put his child first, wife second, and Lord third.  I cannot say it was the easiest thing to say, but it was completely spirit led.  I'm proud to say he took those words to heart and reflected on it and has made some alterations to how he went about his "worship."


So my hope is Mrs. McGoo and I continue to put the Lord first in our marriage as well as when kids come along. 

  

Last Semester

One last semester down before I graduate in December.  All I have left is 14 hours to complete.  12 of those must be an internship (which I am still looking for) and 2 is racquetball. 

I've also gotten back to getting active.  I started playing kickball again and workout after my racquetball sessions three times a week.  Next week I start a 6 week boot camp that I bought on Groupon for $10 (regularly $210).  The only problem is my body isn't holding up.  Two games into kickball and I pulled my quad and my right toe is bothering me a lot because I have a bone spur on it.  Additionally, I have a torn rotator cuff in my right arm, which doesn't lead to much fun after 3x's a week of racquetball and once a week of kickball. 

This just in...I'm falling apart.  Maybe I should start a painting class or something...

London - Day 16 & 17

The past two days have been a bit uneventful. Everyone has left that I was in the program with and I am back at my cousin's flat just hanging out and enjoying some down time. Yesterday we went on a walk around the area and made our way to a really old cemetery. The headstones were really interesting to look at as a lot of them were from the 1800's.

Chapel roof was destroyed by fire in 1970's

Path leading into the cemetery

Someone enjoying a seat

Cool headstone

Look closely and you can see St. Paul's Cathedral. Bench was behind me where you could sit and see it

Can you see how many letters and hearts there are on the crust

Ally, my cousin Andrew's wife, saw that I posted a picture on facebook a while back that I enjoyed the Steak and Ale pie I had at a pub. So Ally took it upon herself to make me a pie last night.

It was delish.

This morning I woke up and took a walk around town.  Unlike the university I was staying at, where they live isn't the most easy place to get to downtown and back. 

So I basically spend my time walking about the area close to their flat.  It isn't all that bad though.  Less traffic and congestion, which is a good thing for someone who doesn't like large crowds. 

Today I walked to a place called "Lordship Lane" which seems a bit of a weird name for a place.  However, it seemed fitting once I got there.  It is all about consumerism and shopping.  Really expensive clothes and other items a person might desire.  So yeah, very fitting it is called "Lordship Lane." 

Tomorrow I head back to the states.  I am flying from London - Heathrow to Detroit and have a 6 hour layover there.  Hoping to catch up with my buddy Jeff and grab a bite with him.  Then I'll head back to Nashville where I am staying with another buddy until Wednesday when Mrs. McGoo can pick me up. 

Pray for safe travels as the Mrs. and I are both traveling. 

Oh, I got a little bored the other day and decided to make Mrs. McGoo a comic strip.  She got a kick out of it.  Let's see what you think?