Cowboy Up, America! When a cowboy’s in a pinch, he just tightens up the cinch, spurs his horse and rides right through it, cause that’s the way the Duke would do it. He’d Cowboy Up.

This year it’s going to be another terrific year for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Just as I did last year, I will be there enjoying all activities for the 2008 show.

This year I plan to see more of the livestock show then I did last year. As for music, there are several performers I want to see this year. There are two I have in mind now, that I want to see Rascal Flatts and Tim McGraw I will see more then one, I hope. All that to look forward too, and I haven’t even started on the great food.

How many of you are planning to go the the Rodeo, and who will you see? It would be a great idea if any of you go, to take pictures and send me a photo and I will make a section for our photos for this year on the blog and Flickr.

This year was the 75 year anniversary.

This year was TERRIFIC! . I was luck enough to attend two events. I’ m thankful for that. I am looking forward to next year, just like all of you. How many of you went to the Rodeo this year.

WARNING: PLEASE DO NOT CONFUSE THE PHOTO TO THE RIGHT WITH ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH THE RODEO!!!

Wow! I just have to say to Houston. I’am Houston Proud! I went to the Rodeo tonight. ZZ Top was the main attraction. What a blast. I had a wonderful time. I don’t mean to brag on our home town. but how can I not do so. We have wonderful people here. I never felt so a part as I did tonight. I just wanted to come home and cry. So many people came to me and JUST ASK! Some ask for autographs and photos to be taken with me. Can you imagian how that made me feel? I am thankful I was able to go to the Rodeo a second time. It was wonderful. Thank all of you who saw me at the rodeo. You made it a plesent time for me. HATS OFF TO HOUSTON

For all of our fans of Rodeo Houston, are excited about opening night for the 75 year of The Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo in Houston. Well for all of the fans of George Strait fans, I think we are out of luck. I hear tickets are sold out. But of course it would be, it’s George Strait.

All of the George Strait fans, say yee haw . Let us know how great the show turned out. Anyone who loves country music will enjoy the show with out a doubt.

Did I mention I was a George Strait fan?!! Let’s rodeo!!!

This page was set up to share info with others who have NF and also family and friends of those people. If you have NF or know somone who does please add me to your friends list! The more the merrier.

What Is NF?

The neurofibromatoses (NF) are a set of genetic disorders which cause tumors to grow along various types of nerves and, in addition, can affect the development of non-nervous tissues such as bones and skin. NF causes tumors to grow anywhere on or in the body. A variety of terms are used to refer to NF

In 1882, NF was first delineated in the medical literature by Dr. Friedrich von Recklinghausen and was so known as Von Recklinghausen’s Disease for many years.

Phakomatosis, from the Greek word “phakos” (meaning birthmark), refers to several disorders, including NF, characterized by birthmarks.

Neurocutaneous Disorder refers to any one of several disorders, of which NF is the most common, which affect the skin and the nervous system.

Types Of Neurofibromatosis

Neurofibromatosis (NF) has been classified into two distinct types: NF1 and NF2.

Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1), also known as von Recklinghausen NF or Peripheral NF, occurring in 1:4,000 births, is characterized by multiple cafe-au-lait spots and neurofibromas on or under the skin. Enlargement and deformation of bones and curvature of the spine (scoliosis) may also occur. Occasionally, tumors may develop in the brain, on cranial nerves, or on the spinal cord. About 50% of people with NF also have learning disabilities.

Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2), also known as Bilateral Acoustic NF (BAN), is much rarer occurring in 1:40,000 births. NF2 is characterized by multiple tumors on the cranial and spinal nerves, and by other lesions of the brain and spinal cord. Tumors affecting both of the auditory nerves are the hallmark. Hearing loss beginning in the teens or early twenties is generally the first symptom.

Genetics of the Neurofibromatoses (NF)

Both forms of NF are autosomal dominant genetic disorders which may be inherited from a parent who has NF or may be the result of a new or spontaneous mutation (change) in the sperm or egg cell. Each child of a parent with NF has a 50% chance of inheriting the gene and developing NF. The type of NF inherited by the child is always the same as that of the affected parent (i.e. if the parent has NF1, each child is at 50% risk for NF1. If the parent has NF2, each child has a 50% chance to inherit NF2), although the severity and the kind of manifestations may differ from person to person within a family.
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Who I’d like to meet:
Facts & Statistics

NF has been classified into three distinct types; NF1, NF2 and Schwannomatosis. They are caused by different genes, located on different chromosomes.

NF1 is not a rare disorder, it is the most common neurological disorder caused by a single gene.

NF1 is the more common form of NF, occurring in 1:4,000 births throughout the world.

NF2 is a rarer type, occurring in 1:40,000 people worldwide.

While today there is no consensus, studies indicate that Schwannomatosis occurs in 1:40,000 people, similar to NF2.

The Neurofibromatoses are genetically-determined disorders which affect more than 100,000 Americans; this makes NF more prevalent than Cystic Fibrosis, hereditary Muscular Dystrophy, Huntington’s Disease and Tay Sachs combined.

All forms of NF are autosomal dominant genetic disorders which can be inherited from a parent who has NF or may be the result of a new or “spontaneous mutation” (change) in the sperm or egg cell.

Each child of an affected parent has a 50% chance of inheriting the gene and developing NF. The type of NF inherited by the child is always the same as that of the affected parent, although the severity of the manifestations may differ from person to person within a family.

NF is worldwide in distribution and affects both sexes equally and has no particular racial, geographic or ethnic distribution. Therefore, NF can appear in any family.

Although most cases of NF1 are mild to moderate, NF1 can lead to disfigurement; blindness; skeletal abnormalities; dermal, brain and spinal tumors; loss of limbs; malignancies; and learning disabilities.

NF1 also has a connection to developmental problems, especially learning disabilities, which are five times more common in the NF1 population than in the general population.

The distinguishing feature of NF2 is tumors that grow on the eighth cranial nerve in both ears, commonly causing deafness and severe balance problems.

NF2 brings on increased risk of other types of nervous system tumors as well.

NF2 can also cause severe vision problems, including cataracts, retinal abnormalities and orbital tumors.

Accordingly, NF research may benefit an additional 100 million Americans (i.e. 65 million with cancer and 35 million with learning disabilities).

NF is not the “Elephant Man’s Disease,” although it was at one time believed to be. Scientists now believe that John Merrick, the so-called “Elephant Man,” had Proteus Syndrome, an entirely different disorder.

NF research began eighteen years ago by the Children’s Tumor Foundation, has been enormously productive ever since.

On another note, Please let me know If you have not received a reply from me. All of the email has made a difference in mylife. I am learning so much from all of you.

Well, we are talking rodeo again. Kick off is today, I believe. I’m excited and expecting this will be a good year. I don’t know if I will be able to go, but who knows. The schedule has a great list of country entertainers and other great entertainers for all of you who are not country music fans. I would like to hear from all of the fans who plan to see someone from our home town–Clay Walker. And I know my good friend here would love to here about it. After all, he will get me a picture of ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. He is such a cool guy. Right Lou?