The Old, the sick and the sudden

I am sure that we have all heard that old adage that bad things happen in 3's. Well death, depending on how you look at it, is one of those bad things. The week of June 22, 2009 was an incredible example. Monday began with the death of Ed McMahon. At the time of his death he was 89 years old. Thursday the world woke up to the news that actress Farrah Fawcett had lost her 4 year battle with cancer. The world went to bed in shock at the sudden death of Michael Jackson.

These deaths have sent me into reminiscence mode. I grew up with these 3 souls having a tremendous impact on me. As a kid, I didn't get to watch much television, so it was a treat to be able to sneak late at night and watch the antics of Johnney Carson. I waited with baited breath to see how my ladies from 'Charlie's Angels' were going to crack the next case. I will admit that I wanted to be Sabrina Duncan (played by Kate Jackson). I thought she was brilliant. Who didn't have a favorite Michael Jackson song?

As the weeks have passed on since their deaths, I have had to take stock and examine each of their legacies. What gift has each person left to make this world a better place? I can only speak for me.

Ed McMahon has left me with the importance of laughter. One cant sleep on the fact that laughter is an integral part of life. I wish that more people would do it. Farrah Fawcett helped to teach me that women are more than just a pretty face. She taught me that we are smart, we are talented, we are multi-faceted, we are independent, we are strong, we are brave, and most importantly...we are love.

Michael Jackson taught me that God's gift to the world is music. I don't think that anyone has lived or will ever live that understood that better than he did. He had the ability to unite all people, all races, all religions...simply by sharing God's gift. It was all about the music.

I remember when I was a kid, my cousin Pebbles (Lisa) was beginning to take a deeper walk with God. To demonstrate to us mere mortals that she was serious about her new path, she decided that she was going to give up all of her love of "worldly music" including her almost obsessive love (my opinion) for Michael Jackson. I think most of us were happy for her new life, even if it was just to see her take those humongous Michael Jackson posters down from her wall. Pebble's took a giant step in her faith shortly after PYT began playing in regular rotation on the radio. I remember walking into her bedroom and watching her dance and sing... "I want to love you. PYT...Pretty Young Thing...And I'll take you there." She explained that she heard it and just couldn't help herself. There was just something about the music. She understood that God showed his love in every one of his creatures.

It was always funny when I heard folks that were older than me say, "Ya'll youngins dont know this or that...I ain't now like it was back then." The world lost some great people the week that was June 22, 2009. I'll have a good time telling the "young folks" what they've missed.

Lying is done with words and also with silence.

I have recently adopted the above quote. Adrienne Rich has never said a truer set of words. It takes my breath away when I come across individuals that do not consider silence a form of deception. I recently ended a conversation with a 40 year old gentleman. I use the word gentleman ONLY for the purposes of this posting because calling him a lyin' Bastard would be to good...sorry I digress. This gentleman was perplexed as to why I kept calling him a liar. He wanted to know what exactly he had said that would classify him as a liar.

We went back and forth for several rounds and finally broke it down like this:
1. When you say something that isn't true. Lie.
2. When you say something that leads another to believe something that isn't true. Lie.
3. When you tell just enough of the truth to get by. Lie.
4. When you you tell half and leave off half. Lie.
5. When you say nothing at all. Lie.
6. When you tell yourself something that isn't true. Damned sad lie.

I finally let the 40 year old lyin' bastard...urr...I mean gentleman that numbers 1-5 all ooze deceit. The 40 year old got me when he asked if #6 wasn't deceitful as well (did I mention he was a sarcastic lyin' bastard?). I am still mulling that one over. Can one be deceitful with oneself?

The bottom line for me isn't the lie. It isn't what I find so offensive. It is the deception that is the most egregious.

The Power of the Written Word

I've always been the type of person that believed that if you wrote down your thoughts and desires then there was live documentation (in black and white) for you to refer to if you needed it. The live documentation was there to hold me accountable, to remind me, to help me track my progress or lack there of. As a result, I have To Do Lists, Affirmation Sticky Notes, Blogs, Journals, and the various random doodling.

Usually when I write it down, I actually realize what is written there. No matter the task or dream, if I write it down, then I do it. My written words come to fruition. I've written down financial goals, written down my educational goals, I write down my running goals. Guess what? I realize those too. This week, for the first time, I kept a food journal. I've been writting down my goals this week. I've been writting down what I plan to eat (and what I want to avoid). Yup, so far so good.

So tonight, it has occurred to me that I should address the relationship area of my life. And no, I am not being ridiculous. It stands to reason, I write everything else down. So here goes:

I want a real man. I want a man that is emotionally available. One that loves music. One that loves art. He must love God and respect nature and the gifts it has to offer. He should speak with his heart. He should love me, respect me, challenge and interest me. He must be a man of integrity and honor.

It is now time for me to get to work.

So let it be written, so let it be done.

In 2:12 flat! It wasn't to long ago that I informed all one of you out there that reads this blog (lol)that I had signed up to do one more again. And so this past weekend the stars aligned perfectly for me to safely travel to Virginia Beach, Va for the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon, Half Marathon and 8K. What a great weekend! Not only was I impressed with my time (of which I don't believe I could have done any better), but I was impressed with the graciousness of the people. I was able to laugh a lot and relax. I was even able to drink champagne at the finish line (sorry sponsors).

Weirdest moment: Seeing a beer station at miles 3 and 9.
Most hilarious road signage: "Baseball is wrong....a man with 4 balls cannot walk."
Odd restaurant menu offering: Ham Chunks
Most memorable moment: Too many to count
Most inspirational moment: My tears of triumph at the finish line.

Rewarding moment: Champagne and live music after the race.

It was suggested that Virginia Beach become a yearly tradition. I have to say that I agree. Man...great friends, great laughs, great race....equals awesome memories.

Btw: The picture of is of me 5 seconds before crossing the finish line.

Today's Funny

This hilarious drawing is courtesy of Patrick Moberg and you can find his work at http://www.patrickmoberg.com/

Life is a Marathon

How many times have you heard this one? I have come to understand exactly what this means. Training is going well. I am up to 9 miles on my long runs, which makes the short runs seem like a breeze. During the long runs I entertain myself with music (boy those IPOD Playlists come in handy), I look at the sites along the trail (I ran by the most beautiful horse farm 2 weeks ago), and I think. I think about all kinds of things. I think about how lucky I am. I think about how far I've come (and how far I still have to go) both on the run and in my real life.

While it is very easy for me to get overwhelmed with the how far I still have to go during my long runs, there is something that clicks in me and says, "ILP, take one more step." Then I do. Then that something says, "Take another step." Then I do. Before I know it I have finished my run and wonder why I was so overwhelmed in the first place.

My Stomach Hurts...

and that is because I have been laughing non stop for about an hour. It is no secret that I love to laugh. Laughter is indeed good. I just finished reading every single entry of my latest muse Stuff Christians Like. The author of this blog is a Christian, but he isn't an ordinary one. He is actually... funny. My biggest complaint about people in the Christian faith is that they are way too serious when it comes to the presentation of their message. Prodigal Jon (yep, that's his name. See I told you he was funny.) has a lot to say. The entries about Evander Holyfield and Butt Wear are hysterical. A lot of what he has to say is serious, but he doesn't take himself to seriously. I like that. His message comes across much better for it. Check out Prodigal Jon when you get a chance, click on the link under my favorites.

The Home Stretch

I can see it. I can see the end of the 2007-2008 school year coming to a close.

I could talk about all the wonderful students I had. How the time flew by. All the laughs and wonderful teaching moments that occurred. Maybe next week, after I get to sleep for 12 hours straight, I'll be able to do that.

Right now I am just plain exhausted and need to concentrate, so that I can cross the finish line.

That is all I have to say about that.

There is a Strange Beauty in a Rainstorm

I was asked today if I had a muse. Honestly, at first I was like, "I dunno", even though the title of this blog says otherwise. But then I read the following line on one of my students' papers: "There is a strange beauty in a rainstorm." I got to thinking:
1. sunrise
2. the women in my family
3. the cycle of life
4. that song "All Things Come to an End" by Nelly Furtado
5. my lover's ears
6. knowing that my strength is greater than even I can imagine
7. my butterfly bush when it is full bloom.
8. the blue birds that I see in my back yard
9. sleeping in spoon position in my lover's arms
10. a good book (which happens to be Half the Yellow Sun right now)
11. 2 pm rain showers in San San (Portland) Jamaica
12. the view of the clouds (from a window seat) at 36,000

So yes, I do have my muses. What are yours?

"At night, I guess,

is when I do it, Sandy."

That was my confused (and a bit exasperated) response to one of my students in Creative Writing yesterday. She wanted to know when I wrote (as in what time of day). I thought it was an odd question, that was until I thought about it. I guess until Sandy asked, I never really thought about my writing in this manner. Writing has always been a part of my life. A journal here, a poem there. A Post-It on the mirror. The "To Do List" on my desk in my classroom. A magazine cut out on the coffee table. My pile of short stories and query letters in the basket in the living room. The novel (currently by Colin Channer) on my bed. Now...my Musings.

Now that I've had a chance to think about it Sandy. Here is my answer. I write....
1. at night
2. when I am bored
3. at work
4. when I am pissed
5. when I can't sleep
6. when I am being naughty
7. when I am being a coward
8. when I am inspired
9. when I am overwhelmed
10. when the sun is shining
11. when it is pouring down rain
12. when I wake up from a nap
13. in the morning
14. whenever

Tomorrow when I see Sandy, I am going to ask her (and the rest of the class) when they do their writing.

OK, I've Done It!

I have finally started one of these things. These blog things. I will admit that it takes me a long time to do everything. Buy a car, get a watch, sign up for a gym membership, try a new restaurant, order a new kind of coffee drink. I can explain myself. You know how it goes... I need to contemplate, weigh the pro's and con's, get other people's opinions, weigh the pros and cons, observe, weigh the pros and cons, again?

Truthfully, I've been reading my cousin's BLOG for a while and then today a friend sent me the link to hers (it was amazing); so I've decided to take the plunge. I can do this, right?

Who knows what I'll talk about. I called it Musings. That would mean that I would have some sort of muse, right? In my case...that might be a bit inaccurate. I mean I can be swept away & absorbed in my own thought, I can get caught up in my own emotions. But a muse is also an inspiration. Don't think I have one of those. Or do I?

Anyway, for now I am just OK with posting whatever. To see what happens. To see the possibilities.