It’s quite possible that I’m just naive, but I never really thought much about it. “It” meaning when people say, “Happy Holidays,” vs. “Merry Christmas,” around this time of year. I just always assumed it was to save time and be all-encompassing when it came to wishing someone good times for this period of the year. To me, “Happy Holidays,” is just a short hand way of saying “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,” or Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, or whatever you may celebrate. With all those holidays falling around this part of the year, not to mention Thanksgiving, “Happy Holidays” has always seemed fine to me. Listening to “religious” people, though, you’ll hear otherwise. Apparently, it’s said to keep you from hearing about Jesus.
It was a talking point during our service this passed Sunday and the local Christian radio station hands out stickers with “Please Wish Me a Merry Christmas” printed on them. Again, maybe I’m just hanging out in a different circle and/or have a different point of view, but I just don’t see it. Even devout atheists that I personally know still celebrate Christmas. They buy loved ones presents and we wish each other a Merry Christmas just as my religious friends do. Maybe it’s not Jesus that they’re celebrating, but how many “Christians” wearing “Please Wish Me a Merry Christmas” stickers are thinking about Jesus when they’re unwrapping over-priced, seldom-needed presents, or watching little Jimmy play with his new toys on Christmas Day?
Because of the reasons mentioned above, I don’t have a problem with “Happy Holidays” being put up in retail stores, either. From a business point of view, it’s inviting to everyone who is out shopping for gifts. While it’s true that the vast majority of consumers in this country would be shopping for Christmas presents (Christian or not), I wouldn’t want to lose sales and risk alienating someone shopping for Hanukkah gifts if everything in my store said “Merry Christmas.” It’s all-inclusive and I like that.
Just a few things on my mind.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Notes from a Clean Desk
As I sit here at my desk on the Friday after Thanksgiving (a.k.a. Black Friday), I had the thought to post a blog entry. It’s a fairly slow day around there, to say the least. I cleaned my desk up some earlier but now I’m the only one here and just sitting around watching random videos on YouTube. I'm watching one of Hootie doing Desert Mountain Showdown at a concert. It’s pretty good stuff for a shaky hand-held camera. I’ve watched a lot worse than this.
I don’t post a lot on this thing, clearly, but it’s not for lack of thoughts and ideas. I have things run across my mind several times a day that I think would be good to talk about but I just never have the time, or make the time, to sit down and fully flesh them out. There aren’t enough hours in the day, it seems, and I don’t want to just throw something out there for the sake of making a blog entry.
If I can’t weave an intricate, layered story about whatever is on my mind, I don’t feel like it’s wroth it. I’m sure I’ve lost some cool ideas that way. I don’t want to just throw up a few lines about my day and call it done, a la Doogie Houser. Hey, who knew that was created by Steven Bochco and David E. Kelley? Interesting.
I guess I’ll try to not hold myself up to whatever funny standard I have and write more regular blog entries and see what happens. Maybe less is more. Less introspection, that is. Maybe none of the five or six people who read my post with the turtle crossing River Watch Parkway thought more about it than the face value anyway.
I did Thanksgiving at my sister Robin’s house in Spartanburg, SC (a.k.a. The Upstate) yesterday and it was good times. The highlight of the event was probably throwing the football with my three-year-old nephew in their front yard. He wasn’t so interested in the passing or catching parts of the game; he concentrated more on the kicking aspect. I’d tell him to go long and he’d run down and avoid the ball as it came sailing towards him. He would then kick it back to me. It usually took three or four kicks to make it back. I hit him w/ the ball once or twice when he wasn’t fast enough to get out of the way. “Hey! You hit me where I pee-pee!” he said once. I didn’t mean to, honest, it just kind of happened that way. :)
Well, I’m mailing it in and taking off from work early. Maybe I’ll post again sooner rather than later.
I don’t post a lot on this thing, clearly, but it’s not for lack of thoughts and ideas. I have things run across my mind several times a day that I think would be good to talk about but I just never have the time, or make the time, to sit down and fully flesh them out. There aren’t enough hours in the day, it seems, and I don’t want to just throw something out there for the sake of making a blog entry.
If I can’t weave an intricate, layered story about whatever is on my mind, I don’t feel like it’s wroth it. I’m sure I’ve lost some cool ideas that way. I don’t want to just throw up a few lines about my day and call it done, a la Doogie Houser. Hey, who knew that was created by Steven Bochco and David E. Kelley? Interesting.
I guess I’ll try to not hold myself up to whatever funny standard I have and write more regular blog entries and see what happens. Maybe less is more. Less introspection, that is. Maybe none of the five or six people who read my post with the turtle crossing River Watch Parkway thought more about it than the face value anyway.
I did Thanksgiving at my sister Robin’s house in Spartanburg, SC (a.k.a. The Upstate) yesterday and it was good times. The highlight of the event was probably throwing the football with my three-year-old nephew in their front yard. He wasn’t so interested in the passing or catching parts of the game; he concentrated more on the kicking aspect. I’d tell him to go long and he’d run down and avoid the ball as it came sailing towards him. He would then kick it back to me. It usually took three or four kicks to make it back. I hit him w/ the ball once or twice when he wasn’t fast enough to get out of the way. “Hey! You hit me where I pee-pee!” he said once. I didn’t mean to, honest, it just kind of happened that way. :)
Well, I’m mailing it in and taking off from work early. Maybe I’ll post again sooner rather than later.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Second to None
If you’ve watched anything on ESPN over the past few weeks you know that Brett Favre is back in the NFL. Only he’s not with Green Bay anymore. They traded him to the New York Jets last night. That just seems wrong. I’m not sure if it’s more wrong that the team didn’t want the face of their franchise back or that the face of the franchise actually wants to play somewhere else. Neither thought sits well with me. I’m sure there are a lot of circumstances going on under the surface that I don’t know about, so maybe some, or all, of this is justified. I just don’t like it.
Building off that, maybe I’m too set in my ways, but I don’t like the aspect of free agency, or trades, or jostling for position, or playing one person against another, etc. As a rule, I don’t really like change at all, for that matter. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” If it is broke, fix it because I don’t want a new one. I’m a one-team-kind-of-guy. I’m a one-woman-kind-of-guy. If I can’t have what I want, and I think it’s the best thing going, then I refuse to replace it with something less.
Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t want to settle for second best; in life, in love, in whatever. The argument could be made that I don’t know what the best is if I don’t try out other things. While that may be true, and I don’t know everything else that’s out there, I do know that if, in the moment, I’m happy and content with what I have then I don’t have any reason to go search out anything else.
That’s the trouble with the aforementioned life and love, though. Just because you think it’s the best thing there ever was, the other party may not and you get replaced, traded, dumped, cut, etc. Then, whether you wanted to or not, you have to begin the search you never wanted to have again. Maybe that’s what Brett is feeling now…relegated to taking second best. I’m sure he’ll smile for the cameras and act like all is well but, on the inside, he won’t be the same. There will always be the question, “what if…”
But it’s no fun, and plain painful, to be just someone's back-up plan, so maybe the search will lead to something better. Still, maybe it’s just the small selfish part of me that’s peeking out, but I don’t want to live a life of “what if…” like that. I guess it’s inevitable sometimes, though.
Building off that, maybe I’m too set in my ways, but I don’t like the aspect of free agency, or trades, or jostling for position, or playing one person against another, etc. As a rule, I don’t really like change at all, for that matter. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” If it is broke, fix it because I don’t want a new one. I’m a one-team-kind-of-guy. I’m a one-woman-kind-of-guy. If I can’t have what I want, and I think it’s the best thing going, then I refuse to replace it with something less.
Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t want to settle for second best; in life, in love, in whatever. The argument could be made that I don’t know what the best is if I don’t try out other things. While that may be true, and I don’t know everything else that’s out there, I do know that if, in the moment, I’m happy and content with what I have then I don’t have any reason to go search out anything else.
That’s the trouble with the aforementioned life and love, though. Just because you think it’s the best thing there ever was, the other party may not and you get replaced, traded, dumped, cut, etc. Then, whether you wanted to or not, you have to begin the search you never wanted to have again. Maybe that’s what Brett is feeling now…relegated to taking second best. I’m sure he’ll smile for the cameras and act like all is well but, on the inside, he won’t be the same. There will always be the question, “what if…”
But it’s no fun, and plain painful, to be just someone's back-up plan, so maybe the search will lead to something better. Still, maybe it’s just the small selfish part of me that’s peeking out, but I don’t want to live a life of “what if…” like that. I guess it’s inevitable sometimes, though.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Life: It depends on how you look at it.
Q: What do the following things have in common?
An apparently silenced cell phone
A baby turtle scurrying across a four-lane highway
A paper cut from opening my first birthday card
Getting stopped by the slowest train in history
A: They’ve all been part of my Friday morning.
The baby turtle was motoring (as best it could) across River Watch Parkway as I was speeding on by, trying not to be late for work. It had made it ¾ of the way so far, but the opposing traffic lanes were looking bad for the kid from my point of view. I thought for a few minutes of how I think that scene parallels my life. Sometimes I feel like that turtle; just trying to make it to my goal on the other side without being flattened. I feel like I dodge traffic everyday. Sometimes I make it through but I do get smacked around and flattened regularly.
Maybe I’m trying for a goal at the wrong time. But when is the right time? Maybe I need to not go for it during the relative morning rush hour. But what if it always seems to be busy? Maybe I should wait for a quieter time and try when the road is less traveled and there are less obstacles. But what if I want it NOW? The ease of attainment might be greater a little later on, but the goal itself won’t be exactly the same then. It’s so worthwhile that almost any obstacle is worth traversing to reach it.
I’ve had paper cuts before, but never from opening a birthday card. It wasn’t a deep cut – there was no blood – but it hurt like heck and clearly left a mark. I’ve had my share of proverbial paper cuts in my life; some deeper than others.
Maybe that’s a sign that I’m moving too fast. Had I opened the envelope slower, I wouldn’t have cut myself. But who really thinks they’ll get cut until it actually happens? Maybe I’m using the wrong methods in life. If it’d used a letter opener, my finger would have never been in danger and the desired result would have been the same. But what if I don’t have life’s letter opener?
I’ve been stopped by trains before, too, but never one going this slow. Welcome back to downtown Augusta, I thought. Again, maybe I’m moving too fast in life and need to slow down. It did give me time to jot down this list of things that happened this morning, though.
I guess we all need time to pause and reflect on what’s going on around us. If we just keep going going going, how will we ever learn? How will we ever know what’s really happening if we just keep jumping from one thing to the next? Maybe the best thing that ever happened to you is standing right there smiling, and being all he can be, and you’re just not noticing. Maybe the one who truly cares for you, would climb the highest mountain, etc. is still right there but you haven’t noticed because you never stop. Maybe we should all just pause, take a step or two away from our lives, and really assess the situation.
Oh, and the thing that started it all, the ever-silenced cell phone. It’s a fixture in my life, to be sure, but this situation is so commonplace now that it doesn’t surprise me anymore. The only maybe I can think of here is maybe I shouldn’t care. But, I can’t help but care. That’s where my heart is.
An apparently silenced cell phone
A baby turtle scurrying across a four-lane highway
A paper cut from opening my first birthday card
Getting stopped by the slowest train in history
A: They’ve all been part of my Friday morning.
The baby turtle was motoring (as best it could) across River Watch Parkway as I was speeding on by, trying not to be late for work. It had made it ¾ of the way so far, but the opposing traffic lanes were looking bad for the kid from my point of view. I thought for a few minutes of how I think that scene parallels my life. Sometimes I feel like that turtle; just trying to make it to my goal on the other side without being flattened. I feel like I dodge traffic everyday. Sometimes I make it through but I do get smacked around and flattened regularly.
Maybe I’m trying for a goal at the wrong time. But when is the right time? Maybe I need to not go for it during the relative morning rush hour. But what if it always seems to be busy? Maybe I should wait for a quieter time and try when the road is less traveled and there are less obstacles. But what if I want it NOW? The ease of attainment might be greater a little later on, but the goal itself won’t be exactly the same then. It’s so worthwhile that almost any obstacle is worth traversing to reach it.
I’ve had paper cuts before, but never from opening a birthday card. It wasn’t a deep cut – there was no blood – but it hurt like heck and clearly left a mark. I’ve had my share of proverbial paper cuts in my life; some deeper than others.
Maybe that’s a sign that I’m moving too fast. Had I opened the envelope slower, I wouldn’t have cut myself. But who really thinks they’ll get cut until it actually happens? Maybe I’m using the wrong methods in life. If it’d used a letter opener, my finger would have never been in danger and the desired result would have been the same. But what if I don’t have life’s letter opener?
I’ve been stopped by trains before, too, but never one going this slow. Welcome back to downtown Augusta, I thought. Again, maybe I’m moving too fast in life and need to slow down. It did give me time to jot down this list of things that happened this morning, though.
I guess we all need time to pause and reflect on what’s going on around us. If we just keep going going going, how will we ever learn? How will we ever know what’s really happening if we just keep jumping from one thing to the next? Maybe the best thing that ever happened to you is standing right there smiling, and being all he can be, and you’re just not noticing. Maybe the one who truly cares for you, would climb the highest mountain, etc. is still right there but you haven’t noticed because you never stop. Maybe we should all just pause, take a step or two away from our lives, and really assess the situation.
Oh, and the thing that started it all, the ever-silenced cell phone. It’s a fixture in my life, to be sure, but this situation is so commonplace now that it doesn’t surprise me anymore. The only maybe I can think of here is maybe I shouldn’t care. But, I can’t help but care. That’s where my heart is.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Business as Usual
I get ideas for things to write about all the time. I'll see or hear something and think, "man...that's interesting...I should talk about that." That's usually as far as I get with it. I might sit down later in the day/night, if I have time, and try but the moment is gone and I usually can't really remember what I wanted to say.
I may have mentioned it before, or if you really know me you'll already know, but I don't like change. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" are words I live by. I'm also very risk-averse and usually don't step out on that ledge to aim for something grander if whatever I've got now is good with me. Maybe I'm blinded by myself and end up settling for something I think is good but is really just "fine." Maybe there's something that's really "good" or even "great" available and I just need to take a moment and check. Where is this stream of consciousness blog post going?
I originally intended to talk about businesses opening, closing, and changing. I've been working back downtown* now for about a week and a half and I've noticed that things have changed in the past almost three years since I worked down here. I guess the most notable changes I've seen, other than the "Welcome to Downtown Augusta" signs on Broad Street, involve stores or restaurants that aren't what or where I remembered them to be. Who knew the Metro Spirit moved its offices to the corner of Broad and 7th Streets, just across from the Chronicle? Not me. The cute little pet grooming place on the corner by the 5th Street bridge...gone. (OK, that one isn't a big deal, but I always noticed it.)
The main restaurants downtown is known for (i.e. Pizza Joint, Nacho Mama's, Mellow Mushroom, etc.) are still here but Malley's closed its doors. I had been looking forward to walking the block and a half for a morning bagel again. The Monterrey's in North Augusta moved from its first location (originally a Pizza Inn back in the 80s!) to a much larger building across the street (originally a Quincy's back in the 80s!). That's a good move; the other place was getting pretty dumpy and parking was usually bad.
Before Monday night, Cinco de Mayo, I hadn't driven down Washington Road beyond the Steinmart shopping center area since New Years Eve, I think. In four months they totally rebuilt the Kroger there and threw in a Wallgreen's drug store on the opposite corner for me for good measure. How does that happen without me knowing? It doesn't really bother me...but it kind of does.
Is it better to know something is going on or to be surprised by it later on? Would you rather know what's happening or be left with just your over-active imagination to dream up what you think might be happening?
The world doesn't stop moving if we stop paying attention. Things happen when you're not looking. Or, at least, you notice them more when you're not looking and then look again. Gradual change isn't noticed as much and doesn't have near the impact of drastic, dramatic change.
In the same sense that someone has to hit rock-bottom before they "see the light" and make a much-needed change: Does it take the total loss of something/someone to make you truly appreciate it/them? You know, the old "didn't realize what you had until you lost it" deal? Of course, you may finally drop something and realize you're better off. You didn't need that as much as you thought. Of course, I'm always afraid of the opposite happening: dropping it and then it's, "oh, crap...I need it more than ever," but by then it's too late and there's no hope for getting back.
"Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone...They paved paradise and put up a parking lot"
-Big Yellow Taxi - Counting Crows
"A change would do you good..."
-A Change - Sheryl Crow
This random blog is brought to you by Taco Bell, which I had for lunch. Think outside the bun.
*I'm sorry if you're out of the loop and didn't know I got another real job and am back downtown. Let me know if you want to talk about it more.
I may have mentioned it before, or if you really know me you'll already know, but I don't like change. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" are words I live by. I'm also very risk-averse and usually don't step out on that ledge to aim for something grander if whatever I've got now is good with me. Maybe I'm blinded by myself and end up settling for something I think is good but is really just "fine." Maybe there's something that's really "good" or even "great" available and I just need to take a moment and check. Where is this stream of consciousness blog post going?
I originally intended to talk about businesses opening, closing, and changing. I've been working back downtown* now for about a week and a half and I've noticed that things have changed in the past almost three years since I worked down here. I guess the most notable changes I've seen, other than the "Welcome to Downtown Augusta" signs on Broad Street, involve stores or restaurants that aren't what or where I remembered them to be. Who knew the Metro Spirit moved its offices to the corner of Broad and 7th Streets, just across from the Chronicle? Not me. The cute little pet grooming place on the corner by the 5th Street bridge...gone. (OK, that one isn't a big deal, but I always noticed it.)
The main restaurants downtown is known for (i.e. Pizza Joint, Nacho Mama's, Mellow Mushroom, etc.) are still here but Malley's closed its doors. I had been looking forward to walking the block and a half for a morning bagel again. The Monterrey's in North Augusta moved from its first location (originally a Pizza Inn back in the 80s!) to a much larger building across the street (originally a Quincy's back in the 80s!). That's a good move; the other place was getting pretty dumpy and parking was usually bad.
Before Monday night, Cinco de Mayo, I hadn't driven down Washington Road beyond the Steinmart shopping center area since New Years Eve, I think. In four months they totally rebuilt the Kroger there and threw in a Wallgreen's drug store on the opposite corner for me for good measure. How does that happen without me knowing? It doesn't really bother me...but it kind of does.
Is it better to know something is going on or to be surprised by it later on? Would you rather know what's happening or be left with just your over-active imagination to dream up what you think might be happening?
The world doesn't stop moving if we stop paying attention. Things happen when you're not looking. Or, at least, you notice them more when you're not looking and then look again. Gradual change isn't noticed as much and doesn't have near the impact of drastic, dramatic change.
In the same sense that someone has to hit rock-bottom before they "see the light" and make a much-needed change: Does it take the total loss of something/someone to make you truly appreciate it/them? You know, the old "didn't realize what you had until you lost it" deal? Of course, you may finally drop something and realize you're better off. You didn't need that as much as you thought. Of course, I'm always afraid of the opposite happening: dropping it and then it's, "oh, crap...I need it more than ever," but by then it's too late and there's no hope for getting back.
"Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone...They paved paradise and put up a parking lot"
-Big Yellow Taxi - Counting Crows
"A change would do you good..."
-A Change - Sheryl Crow
This random blog is brought to you by Taco Bell, which I had for lunch. Think outside the bun.
*I'm sorry if you're out of the loop and didn't know I got another real job and am back downtown. Let me know if you want to talk about it more.
Monday, April 21, 2008
What is Love?
At my advanced age, all of 28, I think I know what love is. Conversely, I also think I know what love isn't. I don't get these "reality" shows where there's ~20 people, usually girls, being whittled down to one by someone else, usually a dude. Are they fun and interesting to watch, sure. But are they really a source of true love, doubtful.
I was all about the first few seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette but how many of them resulted in a relationship that lasted? Honestly, I don't know. I know Trista and Ryan from some season actually made it to marriage but I have no clue if they are still together or if anyone else made it that far. Seeing shows now on their second iterations with the same main star (i.e. Rock of Love II and Shot at Love II) drive home the point for me. This isn't about love, it's about ratings. That's why Jerry Springer and Maurie are still running strong; America will tune in for some junk to make fun of other people put under an unnatural spotlight.
I don't think I could do a show like that...being either the main guy or one of the herd vying for the chance at true love. I'm really a one-woman guy, through and through. If my mind is on someone, good or bad, it's impossible for me to even fathom being with someone else. If I were to walk into a room with 20 single ladies, I could narrow it down to one pretty quickly. That's another reason I wouldn't be on a show like this...there would be no chance at "the most dramatic rose ceremony ever" to look forward to next week.
So, I'm a one-woman guy and also a ratings killer. Oh well. Better that than having two girls go best two out of three in rock/paper/scissors to see who gets to have sex with me first. I'm not making that up. It was on the behind the scenes episode of Rock of Love II.
I'm just not a big enough player for that type of show. I couldn't do it. Couldn't make out with multiple girls in one night and then send the other half packing. I'm good as BSing and telling people what they want to hear sometimes, but I couldn't string girls along like that.
Maybe I'm too nice, but that's just not me. I just want what I want and try not to settle for anything less.
I was all about the first few seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette but how many of them resulted in a relationship that lasted? Honestly, I don't know. I know Trista and Ryan from some season actually made it to marriage but I have no clue if they are still together or if anyone else made it that far. Seeing shows now on their second iterations with the same main star (i.e. Rock of Love II and Shot at Love II) drive home the point for me. This isn't about love, it's about ratings. That's why Jerry Springer and Maurie are still running strong; America will tune in for some junk to make fun of other people put under an unnatural spotlight.
I don't think I could do a show like that...being either the main guy or one of the herd vying for the chance at true love. I'm really a one-woman guy, through and through. If my mind is on someone, good or bad, it's impossible for me to even fathom being with someone else. If I were to walk into a room with 20 single ladies, I could narrow it down to one pretty quickly. That's another reason I wouldn't be on a show like this...there would be no chance at "the most dramatic rose ceremony ever" to look forward to next week.
So, I'm a one-woman guy and also a ratings killer. Oh well. Better that than having two girls go best two out of three in rock/paper/scissors to see who gets to have sex with me first. I'm not making that up. It was on the behind the scenes episode of Rock of Love II.
I'm just not a big enough player for that type of show. I couldn't do it. Couldn't make out with multiple girls in one night and then send the other half packing. I'm good as BSing and telling people what they want to hear sometimes, but I couldn't string girls along like that.
Maybe I'm too nice, but that's just not me. I just want what I want and try not to settle for anything less.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Patience
I used to be very patient. Well, I've been through phases of varying degrees of patience but I'm coming out of a very patient time and entering into one of less patience...and I need to get back. For the past few years I was the most patient and easy going guy I'd ever known (pat self on back). Lately, though, I want everything to happen at that very moment.
I pray everyday (multiple times a day), like always, and ask God for whatever it is I want or think needs to happen but, instead of waiting for His answer, I get it in my head that I need to go out and make it happen (or see what's going on) without God. The vast majority of the time it would have worked out just fine if I'd waited (even a few hours) and all would have been good. Instead, I stuck my hand in there and stirred things up that didn't need to be, which can lead to unwanted and unneeded stress itself.
The grammar isn't the best here and I'm sorry about that. It's late and I just wanted to get this down before I forgot about it. Maybe I'll touch it up later. Or, more likely, maybe not. Time for bed.
I pray everyday (multiple times a day), like always, and ask God for whatever it is I want or think needs to happen but, instead of waiting for His answer, I get it in my head that I need to go out and make it happen (or see what's going on) without God. The vast majority of the time it would have worked out just fine if I'd waited (even a few hours) and all would have been good. Instead, I stuck my hand in there and stirred things up that didn't need to be, which can lead to unwanted and unneeded stress itself.
The grammar isn't the best here and I'm sorry about that. It's late and I just wanted to get this down before I forgot about it. Maybe I'll touch it up later. Or, more likely, maybe not. Time for bed.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Like the wind
I go through a period every year or so where I'll go running three or four times a week for a few months then give it up after it gets way too hot. Looks like that time has come again, as I went for a run on Thursday and then again earlier this afternoon when I found myself at home with nothing to do and a beautiful day outside. I'll have to drive the route to get a better mileage count, but I figure it's about three miles round trip.
I guess the full quote is actually "Run like the wind," which basically means to run really fast. I, however, do not. I'm more of a "slow and steady wins the race" type of guy. So far I have the slow part down pretty good; just need to work up to the steady part. When I say jog it's really a jog/walk right now. It's not so much that I'm out of breath, but my legs are killing me. My back also aches some when I start out. I know all of this will subside once I get a regular routine going and my old body gets used to it again.
To my surprise, my knees are not screaming at me. Thanks to my less-than stellar career as a high school shot putter and pickup basketball player, I usually hobble around on them after any sort of physical activity. Speaking of my shot put days, I was once pictured on the back page of the Columbia County paper doing my thing. That was pretty neat. I think it was from the "First Annual Columbia County Invitational Track Meet" or something like that. I came in fourth. The part of the story that didn't get written was only Evans and Lakeside had dudes doing the shot put that day. Harlem didn't have anyone and it was the year before Greenbrier opened, I think, so I was fourth out of four. I have an Honorable Mention ribbon somewhere for it, though, and my name was announced over the school intercom the next morning. Pretty fun...and funny.
I need to live in the present more...the past just keeps getting farther and farther behind me. Even yesterday seems like ancient history sometimes when presented with a new day's events.
I guess the full quote is actually "Run like the wind," which basically means to run really fast. I, however, do not. I'm more of a "slow and steady wins the race" type of guy. So far I have the slow part down pretty good; just need to work up to the steady part. When I say jog it's really a jog/walk right now. It's not so much that I'm out of breath, but my legs are killing me. My back also aches some when I start out. I know all of this will subside once I get a regular routine going and my old body gets used to it again.
To my surprise, my knees are not screaming at me. Thanks to my less-than stellar career as a high school shot putter and pickup basketball player, I usually hobble around on them after any sort of physical activity. Speaking of my shot put days, I was once pictured on the back page of the Columbia County paper doing my thing. That was pretty neat. I think it was from the "First Annual Columbia County Invitational Track Meet" or something like that. I came in fourth. The part of the story that didn't get written was only Evans and Lakeside had dudes doing the shot put that day. Harlem didn't have anyone and it was the year before Greenbrier opened, I think, so I was fourth out of four. I have an Honorable Mention ribbon somewhere for it, though, and my name was announced over the school intercom the next morning. Pretty fun...and funny.
I need to live in the present more...the past just keeps getting farther and farther behind me. Even yesterday seems like ancient history sometimes when presented with a new day's events.
Monday, January 28, 2008
It's Nice to Be Here
As I sit here eating Kroger-brand Lucky Charms out of a plastic Georgia Tech cup, listening to HBF's Hold My Hand, and drinking my last Diet Coke for 40 days, I'm reminded of Hannibal's quote from the The A-Team, "I love it when a plan comes together." Who's plan? God's plan.
When I was in high school, I swore that when someone finally invented a time machine that I'd travel back and relive a date I had just so I wouldn't say something stupid. As I sit here today, over 10 years later, having said many dumb things on many dates since and having failed many more times at things in life, I wouldn't trade my current point in time for anything. I have no doubts that I'm where God wants and needs me to be. All the success and failure I've experienced in my short (some may call it long) life have led me here, and it's a nice seat to be in.
My previously-mentioned Georgia Tech cup is one of three that I saved from my brief attendance there. Some may call that a failure, and I can too when I get to feeling down about things, but I like to think of it as one of many stepping stones to where I had to go. I remember one night specifically from the Summer 1997 quarter. I'm playing some Nintendo 64 game with my roommate, DuQuay (I wonder what he's doing these days), when I should have been studying chemistry and/or calculus, and some knucklehead comes knocking on the door doing a survey. The only question on the survey is, "Do you believe in God?" I think DuQuay's answer was, "Of course!" Mine, I'm sad to say, was "nope."
I often think about that night and wonder what it was that God saw in me then to bring me where I am today. Whatever it was, I'm glad He did. I do a good bit of volunteer work w/ The Church at Greenbrier, have a great core group of friends, am a home owner, and recently had a long standing prayer answered with an amazing girlfriend. No one will ever convince me that there isn't a God and that He has a plan for everyone. One just needs to have patience and be ready to receive it.
When I was in high school, I swore that when someone finally invented a time machine that I'd travel back and relive a date I had just so I wouldn't say something stupid. As I sit here today, over 10 years later, having said many dumb things on many dates since and having failed many more times at things in life, I wouldn't trade my current point in time for anything. I have no doubts that I'm where God wants and needs me to be. All the success and failure I've experienced in my short (some may call it long) life have led me here, and it's a nice seat to be in.
My previously-mentioned Georgia Tech cup is one of three that I saved from my brief attendance there. Some may call that a failure, and I can too when I get to feeling down about things, but I like to think of it as one of many stepping stones to where I had to go. I remember one night specifically from the Summer 1997 quarter. I'm playing some Nintendo 64 game with my roommate, DuQuay (I wonder what he's doing these days), when I should have been studying chemistry and/or calculus, and some knucklehead comes knocking on the door doing a survey. The only question on the survey is, "Do you believe in God?" I think DuQuay's answer was, "Of course!" Mine, I'm sad to say, was "nope."
I often think about that night and wonder what it was that God saw in me then to bring me where I am today. Whatever it was, I'm glad He did. I do a good bit of volunteer work w/ The Church at Greenbrier, have a great core group of friends, am a home owner, and recently had a long standing prayer answered with an amazing girlfriend. No one will ever convince me that there isn't a God and that He has a plan for everyone. One just needs to have patience and be ready to receive it.
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