9. DaVinci in on everyone' lap
8. Arrested Development is released for the first time.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Day 8...
10. Fiddy does Fiddy.
9. DaVinci in on everyone' lap
8. Arrested Development is released for the first time.
9. DaVinci in on everyone' lap
8. Arrested Development is released for the first time.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
10 years ago...Day 9
10. 50 Cent was rockin the clubs
9. The DaVinci Code was #3 on the NYTimes Best Seller List
9. The DaVinci Code was #3 on the NYTimes Best Seller List
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Monday, May 13, 2013
Hazel.
Anna and I met when we were really young. About 7 in our first year at camp. I remember her vaguely from that time, but really it's because she remembered me first and we found pictures. We were about 12 when we met again. "Did you go to Girls Camp as a kid?" Her accent was unlike any I'd heard. Not quite The South but more southern than kids where I was from, and yet certainly not the most twang I knew of.
"Yeah"
"Did you stay in Trinity your first year?"
"Yeah"
"Thought so." More than her accent I remember her being forward and slightly abrupt. Yet friendly. And I wanted to be her friend.
"Well did you go to Girls Camp and did you stay in Trinity?" I asked knowing the answer but wanting to know more about this super fascinating girl. And that, as they say, is history. We spent the entire week together. Living in the same cabin, choosing the same activities, and acting as each other's wing men at the ever important dances. The week drew to a close and my heart ached to say goodbye to another wonderful year at camp. (Isn't the weight that High Schoolers put on things daunting...goodness. Glad that's over. I digress...). Anna, who lived about an hour away, and I exchanged phone numbers and addresses promising to keep in touch. I think I wrote her my first letter from the car. And we talked on the phone the next day.
Not too long after camp she invited me down for a weekend visit. My mother agreed so long as she could speak to Anna's parents. I'm sure I rolled my eyes that she was so ridiculously protective, but of course the mothers called and spent some time talking to each other discussing the logistics of getting me to their house. Mom replaced the received (you used to have to stand by the phone to talk into it) and said very calmly but very candidly.
"Does Anna's mother have MS?"
With this I am certain my eyes rolled out of my head. "Ugh Mother, you are so rude. She doesn't have MS". I was afraid this was leading to her telling me that I wasn't going to be allowed to go visit Anna. I knew Multiple Sclerosis. My parents had a few close friends living with the disease. Although to me it mostly meant wheel chairs.
"Hillie. You should ask Anna. I'm sure it will be fine, but I don't want you to be surprised. I can hear it in her voice. She sounds a lot like Nancy. Very sharp and clear thoughts but also a little slower. And you should be prepared for this." Mom told me more about the disease, how it progresses and some experiences she had with supporting the disease as a friend.
Be clear, that conversation was not an after school special. It took probably 47 seconds before I grabbed the permission I needed, and ran upstairs to call Anna and squeal in delight that I would see her in a couple days.
"There's something you should know before you come down...My mom has MS and is in a wheel chair".
I hate when my mother is right. And in this specific example, I'm still kinda pissed she was. She explained a little bit about what that meant for her reality but assured me that her mother was still a mom.
And that's really that. Anna and I spent the next six years before college hip to hip. And so a large part of my adolescence was spent around a woman whose symptoms had progressed so greatly that, as a teen, my Anna was a primary caregiver to her mother. And can I tell you Anna was always so wonderful with her mother's care?!!!?!?! I mean, yes at times I am sure she was a grumpy teenager who didn't want to tend to her mother's request, but find one 15 year old girl who gladly does everything their parents tell her to.http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/LeadershipClass/OHGGeneralEvents?px=11877216&pg=personal&fr_id=21356 But she served and supported her mother with such strength and grace it was impossible not to notice and be impacted by her love and generosity. And interestingly, it was due the ease by which Anna loved and cared that it all seemed so normal for me. Like I knew 30 other teenagers who lived the same life.
And can I tell you what else was pretty normal? The way that Hazel would yell at us when we misbehaved. I mean sure her speech was a little slower but she should could remind us quickly who the mother was. Quickly.
So why the story, Gage?
Well. I recently was selected to serve as a member of the area's MS Society Leadership Class and as a result I have been reflecting a lot about how Multiple Scelrosis impacted me. And it's impossible not to think about that time in my life I spent with my dear friend and her mother.
I have the opportunity to help spread the word about this disease and raise some money to help families living with an MS diagnosis. So before I ask you generous generous friends to open your hearts and wallets to help this cause, I offer some interesting points.
The Skinny:
MS is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system. Symptoms can be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or servere such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from person to person.
The Hope:
MS has long been a diagnosis of elimination. However through progress in research that is not longer the case and they are making great advancements in medicine providing variety in treatment plans.
The Goal:
A cure! And in the mean time help support research, wellness, and community for those living with the disease.
Please visit MY PAGE and help us reach our goal! Or you can contact me directly, if you prefer.
And check out the website for more research and opportunities to help (There's a mudder in July I'll be harassing you about, btw).
Or just let me know if you are interested in learning more or helping the cause!
Until then, with MUCH love...and hope
xoxo,
gage~
"Yeah"
"Did you stay in Trinity your first year?"
"Yeah"
"Thought so." More than her accent I remember her being forward and slightly abrupt. Yet friendly. And I wanted to be her friend.
"Well did you go to Girls Camp and did you stay in Trinity?" I asked knowing the answer but wanting to know more about this super fascinating girl. And that, as they say, is history. We spent the entire week together. Living in the same cabin, choosing the same activities, and acting as each other's wing men at the ever important dances. The week drew to a close and my heart ached to say goodbye to another wonderful year at camp. (Isn't the weight that High Schoolers put on things daunting...goodness. Glad that's over. I digress...). Anna, who lived about an hour away, and I exchanged phone numbers and addresses promising to keep in touch. I think I wrote her my first letter from the car. And we talked on the phone the next day.
Not too long after camp she invited me down for a weekend visit. My mother agreed so long as she could speak to Anna's parents. I'm sure I rolled my eyes that she was so ridiculously protective, but of course the mothers called and spent some time talking to each other discussing the logistics of getting me to their house. Mom replaced the received (you used to have to stand by the phone to talk into it) and said very calmly but very candidly.
"Does Anna's mother have MS?"
With this I am certain my eyes rolled out of my head. "Ugh Mother, you are so rude. She doesn't have MS". I was afraid this was leading to her telling me that I wasn't going to be allowed to go visit Anna. I knew Multiple Sclerosis. My parents had a few close friends living with the disease. Although to me it mostly meant wheel chairs.
"Hillie. You should ask Anna. I'm sure it will be fine, but I don't want you to be surprised. I can hear it in her voice. She sounds a lot like Nancy. Very sharp and clear thoughts but also a little slower. And you should be prepared for this." Mom told me more about the disease, how it progresses and some experiences she had with supporting the disease as a friend.
Be clear, that conversation was not an after school special. It took probably 47 seconds before I grabbed the permission I needed, and ran upstairs to call Anna and squeal in delight that I would see her in a couple days.
"There's something you should know before you come down...My mom has MS and is in a wheel chair".
I hate when my mother is right. And in this specific example, I'm still kinda pissed she was. She explained a little bit about what that meant for her reality but assured me that her mother was still a mom.
And that's really that. Anna and I spent the next six years before college hip to hip. And so a large part of my adolescence was spent around a woman whose symptoms had progressed so greatly that, as a teen, my Anna was a primary caregiver to her mother. And can I tell you Anna was always so wonderful with her mother's care?!!!?!?! I mean, yes at times I am sure she was a grumpy teenager who didn't want to tend to her mother's request, but find one 15 year old girl who gladly does everything their parents tell her to.http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/LeadershipClass/OHGGeneralEvents?px=11877216&pg=personal&fr_id=21356 But she served and supported her mother with such strength and grace it was impossible not to notice and be impacted by her love and generosity. And interestingly, it was due the ease by which Anna loved and cared that it all seemed so normal for me. Like I knew 30 other teenagers who lived the same life.
And can I tell you what else was pretty normal? The way that Hazel would yell at us when we misbehaved. I mean sure her speech was a little slower but she should could remind us quickly who the mother was. Quickly.
So why the story, Gage?
Well. I recently was selected to serve as a member of the area's MS Society Leadership Class and as a result I have been reflecting a lot about how Multiple Scelrosis impacted me. And it's impossible not to think about that time in my life I spent with my dear friend and her mother.
I have the opportunity to help spread the word about this disease and raise some money to help families living with an MS diagnosis. So before I ask you generous generous friends to open your hearts and wallets to help this cause, I offer some interesting points.
The Skinny:
MS is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system. Symptoms can be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or servere such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from person to person.
The Hope:
MS has long been a diagnosis of elimination. However through progress in research that is not longer the case and they are making great advancements in medicine providing variety in treatment plans.
The Goal:
A cure! And in the mean time help support research, wellness, and community for those living with the disease.
Please visit MY PAGE and help us reach our goal! Or you can contact me directly, if you prefer.
And check out the website for more research and opportunities to help (There's a mudder in July I'll be harassing you about, btw).
Or just let me know if you are interested in learning more or helping the cause!
Until then, with MUCH love...and hope
xoxo,
gage~
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Identity Theft
Not necessarily in this order: White. 30 yr old. Female. Kentuckian. Christian. Episcopal. Republican.
These words are those I use to shape my identity. It's natural to need and want labels. Those are mine. Among others, but the big picture of me starts with those few words. And what's so wonderful about identity is that those identifiers mean something unique to me. If there was another woman out there that uses those exact same words, even she would have different understanding and perspective of her identity. What's funny is with the obvious exception of the white part and the 30 year old part (although age plays an important role), in my perspective I consider myself a minority.
There are no truths there are only perceptions.
I went to elementary school in Ohio. I had to learn their state song and motto. At an assembly when we sang 50 Nifty United States, the last line we were told to shout with pride, "Ohio is the best state of them all!" I asked if I could say Kentucky. My teacher said I could quietly add it after I shouted Ohio. One of my dear friends from this school still talks about Kentucky like it's the Old West. Foreign, unfamiliar, and unexplored. I live .72 miles from the state line. And as an adult I choose to live here, especially now that we have indoor plumbing.
Living in Cincinnati it's not rare to find Christians. And by Christians I mean Catholics, specifically. Identifying with the bastard faith of its Roman predecessor has prevented me from taking communion at friend's weddings. That's not true, because I always go to the altar and share in the sacrament that I was invited to. I've been to weddings where a priest has WORD FOR WORD SAID, "So if you aren't Catholic just stay in your pew, it's fine! Know that we still pray for you, but the altar is saved for those actively practicing Catholic Faith". I think that exactly what Jesus said. You know, since he was Jewish. I choose to believe in one God and I choose to believe in a God who doesn't care where you are when you pray. I choose to believe that He forgives ALL sinners if not the sin. Which is why I am able to forgive that elitist priest for trying to tell me that God does not offer his grace to me directly but that my Catholic friends will pray for me.
And when I find myself outside a community of faith, I most often find myself in a community of young people. Not super weird as I'm one, too. But in 2012 many people my age identify themselves as Agnostic or Atheist. I find this to be especially true in an urban setting. Even more true within an artists community. You should see some of the looks I get when I explain that I not only believe in God but that I teach Sunday School. Why is it that you can't like beer or sex to be a good Christian? I mean, you know that Tammy Faye Baker loved sinning. But more frustratingly, why do I have to defend myself because your perception of Christianity is shaped by media, tea parties, movies, and teen age rebellion? Yes I believe in evolution. Yes I believe in Gay marriage. Yes I believe in pre-marital sex (just kidding Dad). I don't really know what I think about heaven and no I don't believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. But I do think he was a good man and I choose to use his story as a model for how I hope to live with an open heart and mind. I try to feed the hungry and help the needy and sick. I know that the word Christian isn't very sexy these days, and I don't care what faith, if any, you choose to identify with. Just be fucking nice.
And as few Christians there are in my communities, there are still fewer Republicans. Yes I live in a Red state. And yes it will be the first state to be called Red in the election. But sort of like how the coasts are predominantly blue, so are urban cores. And my generation is very blue. During the 2008 election friends were talking about me like I had leprosy. Seriously I went out to celebrate President Obama's election (no I didn't vote for him, but it was history and I love good party. And like it or not, he was going to be my President and I wanted to welcome him properly) and a friend, not a close friend but more than an acquaintance, came running into the Pub cheering, high fiving, and hugging people. She stopped at me and said, "I heard you're a Republican". Seriously?!?!?! From whom? And how does that even come into conversation unless you were talking poorly of me? Yes I believe in a choice for marriage and adoption rights for same sex couples. Yes I believe in a woman's choice no matter what circumstance led her to this point. But I do not believe that these are political issues. I believe these are human issues.
Unfortunately it's not like that and government has put their nose where they don't belong. So please don't confuse my desire for small government, educational benchmarks, local funding for community progress, privatized health care, strong and continued military defense, as a lack of compassion. Because I don't believe that a MAN from California should not get to vote to tell me what my choices are. And I don't believe that anyone knows how I or my children learn and the presumption that two people learn in the exact same way is absurd. And I most definitely do not believe that I should be paying twice the deductible as my male counterpart in the off chance that I get pregnant. So by confusing my values, beliefs, and character with my preferred governmental strategy to running this country is, at best, unfair.
I'm tired of living in a world where the terms 'liberal' and 'conservative' have become no different than other words that negatively generalize an entire group of people. Liberal does not mean young and hip nor does conservative does mean red neck. And to my Republican friends, liberal does not mean uninformed nor un-American. Stop generalizing. Be fucking nice.
This country was greatly and eloquently founded on the principles of "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness". Of course at the time that was written mostly with the happiness of white men in mind, but to me, I see that as a choice for life, a choice for liberty, and a choice for a path to happiness. An unalienable freedom of choice. My choice and your choice. And if we keep that phrase as simple as was intended to be, it can easily adapt to the needs of the American people today and 200 years from now.
But our system is broken and politicians are insisting they know what my idea of happiness is. Over-complicating a very simple premise. So while everyone insists that Obama's better or Romney's better or Willard Fucking Fillmore should come back, I promise to not get in the way of others pursuit and I promise to keep learning and questioning and challenging injustices. There is no one candidate with whom I perfectly identify with as a 31 year old, white, Episcopal, Republican, woman from Covington, KY. How could there be? So in the mean time I vote as honestly as I can for my opportunity to pursue a life where I can thrive. And in the mean time I write letters to my congress about injustices I find, I pray for peace (yes pray), and I offer kindness and compassion and care to all those I am able.
I hope you choose the same.
May was all get back to a hopeful land mindful of the fact that, as the lovely Avett Brothers say, "nothing is owed, deserved, or expected and your life doesn't change by the man that's elected, when you're loved by someone you're never rejected. Decide what to be and go be it" Pursue a life that makes you happy by the choices you make daily. And don't tell me what makes me happy. You'll never truly know.
I'm still trying to work that out for myself.
Until then, I am AMAZED by the security and safety I am offered daily to make mistakes in life in this great land. And I'm especially thankful for dialogue with those who allow for it. No matter which side of an argument you stand on thanks for sharing your perspective and listening to mine.
Speaking of which...read this:
http://thishoodlife.com/2012/09/25/the-value-of-seeing-in-p-c-matt-werbach/
And take a look at my mother's brief perspective:
These words are those I use to shape my identity. It's natural to need and want labels. Those are mine. Among others, but the big picture of me starts with those few words. And what's so wonderful about identity is that those identifiers mean something unique to me. If there was another woman out there that uses those exact same words, even she would have different understanding and perspective of her identity. What's funny is with the obvious exception of the white part and the 30 year old part (although age plays an important role), in my perspective I consider myself a minority.
There are no truths there are only perceptions.
I went to elementary school in Ohio. I had to learn their state song and motto. At an assembly when we sang 50 Nifty United States, the last line we were told to shout with pride, "Ohio is the best state of them all!" I asked if I could say Kentucky. My teacher said I could quietly add it after I shouted Ohio. One of my dear friends from this school still talks about Kentucky like it's the Old West. Foreign, unfamiliar, and unexplored. I live .72 miles from the state line. And as an adult I choose to live here, especially now that we have indoor plumbing.
Living in Cincinnati it's not rare to find Christians. And by Christians I mean Catholics, specifically. Identifying with the bastard faith of its Roman predecessor has prevented me from taking communion at friend's weddings. That's not true, because I always go to the altar and share in the sacrament that I was invited to. I've been to weddings where a priest has WORD FOR WORD SAID, "So if you aren't Catholic just stay in your pew, it's fine! Know that we still pray for you, but the altar is saved for those actively practicing Catholic Faith". I think that exactly what Jesus said. You know, since he was Jewish. I choose to believe in one God and I choose to believe in a God who doesn't care where you are when you pray. I choose to believe that He forgives ALL sinners if not the sin. Which is why I am able to forgive that elitist priest for trying to tell me that God does not offer his grace to me directly but that my Catholic friends will pray for me.
And when I find myself outside a community of faith, I most often find myself in a community of young people. Not super weird as I'm one, too. But in 2012 many people my age identify themselves as Agnostic or Atheist. I find this to be especially true in an urban setting. Even more true within an artists community. You should see some of the looks I get when I explain that I not only believe in God but that I teach Sunday School. Why is it that you can't like beer or sex to be a good Christian? I mean, you know that Tammy Faye Baker loved sinning. But more frustratingly, why do I have to defend myself because your perception of Christianity is shaped by media, tea parties, movies, and teen age rebellion? Yes I believe in evolution. Yes I believe in Gay marriage. Yes I believe in pre-marital sex (just kidding Dad). I don't really know what I think about heaven and no I don't believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. But I do think he was a good man and I choose to use his story as a model for how I hope to live with an open heart and mind. I try to feed the hungry and help the needy and sick. I know that the word Christian isn't very sexy these days, and I don't care what faith, if any, you choose to identify with. Just be fucking nice.
And as few Christians there are in my communities, there are still fewer Republicans. Yes I live in a Red state. And yes it will be the first state to be called Red in the election. But sort of like how the coasts are predominantly blue, so are urban cores. And my generation is very blue. During the 2008 election friends were talking about me like I had leprosy. Seriously I went out to celebrate President Obama's election (no I didn't vote for him, but it was history and I love good party. And like it or not, he was going to be my President and I wanted to welcome him properly) and a friend, not a close friend but more than an acquaintance, came running into the Pub cheering, high fiving, and hugging people. She stopped at me and said, "I heard you're a Republican". Seriously?!?!?! From whom? And how does that even come into conversation unless you were talking poorly of me? Yes I believe in a choice for marriage and adoption rights for same sex couples. Yes I believe in a woman's choice no matter what circumstance led her to this point. But I do not believe that these are political issues. I believe these are human issues.
Unfortunately it's not like that and government has put their nose where they don't belong. So please don't confuse my desire for small government, educational benchmarks, local funding for community progress, privatized health care, strong and continued military defense, as a lack of compassion. Because I don't believe that a MAN from California should not get to vote to tell me what my choices are. And I don't believe that anyone knows how I or my children learn and the presumption that two people learn in the exact same way is absurd. And I most definitely do not believe that I should be paying twice the deductible as my male counterpart in the off chance that I get pregnant. So by confusing my values, beliefs, and character with my preferred governmental strategy to running this country is, at best, unfair.
I'm tired of living in a world where the terms 'liberal' and 'conservative' have become no different than other words that negatively generalize an entire group of people. Liberal does not mean young and hip nor does conservative does mean red neck. And to my Republican friends, liberal does not mean uninformed nor un-American. Stop generalizing. Be fucking nice.
This country was greatly and eloquently founded on the principles of "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness". Of course at the time that was written mostly with the happiness of white men in mind, but to me, I see that as a choice for life, a choice for liberty, and a choice for a path to happiness. An unalienable freedom of choice. My choice and your choice. And if we keep that phrase as simple as was intended to be, it can easily adapt to the needs of the American people today and 200 years from now.
But our system is broken and politicians are insisting they know what my idea of happiness is. Over-complicating a very simple premise. So while everyone insists that Obama's better or Romney's better or Willard Fucking Fillmore should come back, I promise to not get in the way of others pursuit and I promise to keep learning and questioning and challenging injustices. There is no one candidate with whom I perfectly identify with as a 31 year old, white, Episcopal, Republican, woman from Covington, KY. How could there be? So in the mean time I vote as honestly as I can for my opportunity to pursue a life where I can thrive. And in the mean time I write letters to my congress about injustices I find, I pray for peace (yes pray), and I offer kindness and compassion and care to all those I am able.
I hope you choose the same.
May was all get back to a hopeful land mindful of the fact that, as the lovely Avett Brothers say, "nothing is owed, deserved, or expected and your life doesn't change by the man that's elected, when you're loved by someone you're never rejected. Decide what to be and go be it" Pursue a life that makes you happy by the choices you make daily. And don't tell me what makes me happy. You'll never truly know.
I'm still trying to work that out for myself.
Until then, I am AMAZED by the security and safety I am offered daily to make mistakes in life in this great land. And I'm especially thankful for dialogue with those who allow for it. No matter which side of an argument you stand on thanks for sharing your perspective and listening to mine.
Speaking of which...read this:
http://thishoodlife.com/2012/09/25/the-value-of-seeing-in-p-c-matt-werbach/
And take a look at my mother's brief perspective:
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Rounding third...
At the start of this year my employer said this would be a relatively slow year. Then they added another implementation. So he didn't lie he just changed his mind. I took a few days off in August but the short weeks proved more stressful than the long weekends were relaxing. In one month we implement. I'm not really stressed so much as it seems there's no end in site. My alarm went off and the first thing I said today was "I don't want to go in today. I'm coming straight home and I'm not running today".
When I started this job my running took a turn. I still ran, but it was really a half assed effort and something that got me away from the group when traveling. It was a break from my reality. This job is stressful in that it never ends. So for a year I have watched my blood pressure creep up along with my weight. nothing crazy or alarming. Creeping.
5 weeks ago I promised myself that I would wake up BEFORE work and work out two times a week. I have also started running for speed not distance.
Today at the doctor my blood pressure was found to be back to normal with the project only three weeks away!
Moral of the story? I promise that every day I'll wake up and believe that something amazing will happen. And I'll run to find it if I have to. And you? Get moving. Your family needs you...not your old waistline.
And the project will soon be over and I'll soon thereafter be in Jamaica. rounding third and headed for home!
When I started this job my running took a turn. I still ran, but it was really a half assed effort and something that got me away from the group when traveling. It was a break from my reality. This job is stressful in that it never ends. So for a year I have watched my blood pressure creep up along with my weight. nothing crazy or alarming. Creeping.
5 weeks ago I promised myself that I would wake up BEFORE work and work out two times a week. I have also started running for speed not distance.
Today at the doctor my blood pressure was found to be back to normal with the project only three weeks away!
Moral of the story? I promise that every day I'll wake up and believe that something amazing will happen. And I'll run to find it if I have to. And you? Get moving. Your family needs you...not your old waistline.
And the project will soon be over and I'll soon thereafter be in Jamaica. rounding third and headed for home!
Monday, May 7, 2012
In My Defense...
I've been having to defend myself a lot lately. I don't really notice it as it's happening, but hindsight shows that there are a few topics that I will grow very passionate about with a quickness. I don't have time to give you all the back stories for all the points here, but I want to share briefly my stances on a few of my life's greatest debates.
1. Catholics are not better than other denominations or people. As an Episcopalian, which is modeled directly from that denomination, we subscribe to many, if not most, of the same theories and beliefs. One we don't share, among a few others, is the fact that you have to be baptized Catholic to take communion at the Catholic rail. This was brought up recently at a friend's wedding and we Anglicans (who attend our church regularly) spent too much time wondering if we were going to share a sacrament at our friend's wedding. I did and found myself having to puff up and show another human that his rules are not the one's I need to be worried about. And that a God I believe in always forgives the sinner even if they don't truly believe in Him. The timing of this is parallel to the story that the woman was fired in IN because she taught at a Catholic School and had IVF treatments to get pregnant. It's remarkable to me. And I'm not suggesting that since Catholics are not a superior denomination that means mine is. I am saying, however, in a country founded on freedom of choice and the pursuit of happiness how does one religion's RULES supersede my FREEDOMS? I have the same argument for the birth control controversy, but it's too early to even go there.
2. John Calipari is a great coach. The one and done bit is not his rule, he just plays that game better than anyone else. If games he coached are revoked we'll cross that bridge when we get there. But now I am having one of the best times as a fan of the UK Men's Basketball program. And yes most of those boys could benefit from 4 years of college education, but that's between them their mothers. Cal has nothing to do with that. Leave him out of that. And notice the growth he can inspire in the one year that he does have with those boys. (Many of which don't have an adult male role model in their life). And what outsiders often miss is what he does for other programs. With an amazing social media savvy he pulls our fans into a winning baseball season, women's basketball, swimming, etc. So I'm sorry that he doesn't beat his players like Bobby and he doesn't guzzle GnTs like Huggy bear, but he does bring home championships. And if you are a fan of anything you should be able to relate in my excitement. Just be happy for me, jerkfaces.
3. I like running. I don't love it yet. I'm not entirely convinced I ever will. I ran 13.1 yesterday then spent the rest of the day eating and drinking crap. I don't do it to be skinny (I gave up on that reality ages ago), I do it because it allows me an opportunity to learn something new all for myself. Physically and mentally. Not for work and not for my family but all for me. I'll debrief on this later, but this race I learned a bit how to be a partner. Everyone always says run your own race, but this time I trained and ran our race. I learned that I struggle sometimes with partnership. That when at mile 8 Jen told me to go on without her, I almost did. But I was so thrilled when a few miles later when I wanted to die she waited for me. Having been single so long I don't get practice in compromise. And I can't think of another venue where you get to practice so many different life lessons. Running sucks. Races are fun. My legs kill. I look forward to see what the next race has in store. And when you tell me that you hate it or that your knees can't handle it, all I hear are excuses. Because you're right. It is difficult mentally and physically I just use those are motivators and challenges in the journey. If you don't want to run, don't. But you'll never know if you can or can't do it until you truly try.
4. I believe in second chances but I don't believe that people change. People always say that they are impressed that I am a runner now considering where my life was just 5 years ago. I haven't changed though, I've just shifted my priorities. I still like to drink as much as I did back then, I just don't like to do it all the time any more. I still love concerts and baseball and crap reality tv and ice cream. I'm still a goal oriented person who doesn't mind finishing last. This conversation has most often come up with regard to my friend's ex-boy/girlfriends. If you get back with an ex the timing of the relationship and your willing to compromise more/less may be different but that you two are the same people trying a different angle at the same thing. If you poke a hole in a tent to look in, when you poke a hole on the other side it shows you the same tent just a different angle. You can convince yourself that it's different inside, and I'm happy to play along to a degree, but it's the same tent. I know this makes me seem like I'm a judgy pessimist, but how is hoping that your friends never settle and get something they truly deserve make me the bad guy? And if you ask me what I think about your bf/gf and I don't think that person suits you, then I'm going to tell you. But ultimately that's never my choice. And if you are happy so am I. But you shouldn't have to convince me that you are, I should be able to see it from across the room.
So that's it. Special thanks to my blog-stalker for inspiring these thoughts. Post-race rundown coming sometime. Or maybe not. I'm the worst blogger ever and I don't know why you all stick around. But for that I'm grateful and AMAZED for the opportunity to share my life as openly as possibly in this somewhat public private journal :).
xoxo
ghg~
1. Catholics are not better than other denominations or people. As an Episcopalian, which is modeled directly from that denomination, we subscribe to many, if not most, of the same theories and beliefs. One we don't share, among a few others, is the fact that you have to be baptized Catholic to take communion at the Catholic rail. This was brought up recently at a friend's wedding and we Anglicans (who attend our church regularly) spent too much time wondering if we were going to share a sacrament at our friend's wedding. I did and found myself having to puff up and show another human that his rules are not the one's I need to be worried about. And that a God I believe in always forgives the sinner even if they don't truly believe in Him. The timing of this is parallel to the story that the woman was fired in IN because she taught at a Catholic School and had IVF treatments to get pregnant. It's remarkable to me. And I'm not suggesting that since Catholics are not a superior denomination that means mine is. I am saying, however, in a country founded on freedom of choice and the pursuit of happiness how does one religion's RULES supersede my FREEDOMS? I have the same argument for the birth control controversy, but it's too early to even go there.
2. John Calipari is a great coach. The one and done bit is not his rule, he just plays that game better than anyone else. If games he coached are revoked we'll cross that bridge when we get there. But now I am having one of the best times as a fan of the UK Men's Basketball program. And yes most of those boys could benefit from 4 years of college education, but that's between them their mothers. Cal has nothing to do with that. Leave him out of that. And notice the growth he can inspire in the one year that he does have with those boys. (Many of which don't have an adult male role model in their life). And what outsiders often miss is what he does for other programs. With an amazing social media savvy he pulls our fans into a winning baseball season, women's basketball, swimming, etc. So I'm sorry that he doesn't beat his players like Bobby and he doesn't guzzle GnTs like Huggy bear, but he does bring home championships. And if you are a fan of anything you should be able to relate in my excitement. Just be happy for me, jerkfaces.
 |
| In case you didn't know what the national championship trophy looks like...this is what it looks like. |
4. I believe in second chances but I don't believe that people change. People always say that they are impressed that I am a runner now considering where my life was just 5 years ago. I haven't changed though, I've just shifted my priorities. I still like to drink as much as I did back then, I just don't like to do it all the time any more. I still love concerts and baseball and crap reality tv and ice cream. I'm still a goal oriented person who doesn't mind finishing last. This conversation has most often come up with regard to my friend's ex-boy/girlfriends. If you get back with an ex the timing of the relationship and your willing to compromise more/less may be different but that you two are the same people trying a different angle at the same thing. If you poke a hole in a tent to look in, when you poke a hole on the other side it shows you the same tent just a different angle. You can convince yourself that it's different inside, and I'm happy to play along to a degree, but it's the same tent. I know this makes me seem like I'm a judgy pessimist, but how is hoping that your friends never settle and get something they truly deserve make me the bad guy? And if you ask me what I think about your bf/gf and I don't think that person suits you, then I'm going to tell you. But ultimately that's never my choice. And if you are happy so am I. But you shouldn't have to convince me that you are, I should be able to see it from across the room.
So that's it. Special thanks to my blog-stalker for inspiring these thoughts. Post-race rundown coming sometime. Or maybe not. I'm the worst blogger ever and I don't know why you all stick around. But for that I'm grateful and AMAZED for the opportunity to share my life as openly as possibly in this somewhat public private journal :).
xoxo
ghg~
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