Sometimes I worry that I am the character Brad Pitt will be playing in the upcoming film Burn After Reading. Granted I need to lose a lot of weight and overhaul my face to look like him but … that goofy temperament altered by an iPod? ::: sucking air through my teeth ::: yeah … that could be little bit of me.
Now, thankfully I lost that hair style a few years ago. ::: whew :::
I really like my iPod and will admit to catching myself jammin’ out to Mary J. Blige’s hit Just Fine a little too vigorously while on the elliptical machine.
It’s just simply the best song *ever* for cardio. Getting swept up in music is the only way I can get through cardio.
Yesterday, I went to work out and was doing upper back and biceps. I went over to the free weight area, because ::: swaggering ::: that’s where all the big dog’s in the gym go to work out their guns. This is what it looked like (please allow for a *tad* bit of embellishment):
I got my good looks from Mom and yes, those are Superman glasses (emblem on the side of the ear piece.)
This was the picture of my Mom and I when we joined Radnor Baptist Church in Nashville. I was in sixth grade. It was my only time in church growing up (about six months.) I was Baptized but didn’t know what it all meant. I did not have a saving knowledge of Christ and don’t remember how it all transpired even. But … I remember the day *very* clearly. More on that in a minute.
At this church one of the funny memories is when my brother and I were making noises, loud noises that sounded like “barking tree spiders” if you know what I mean. Brother Paul, the preacher, made my brother and I sit on the mini-thrones behind him on stage. My brother seemed to love it. I was terrified.
My brother and I gave the elders a run for their money though. We rode the church bus to Sunday school and then would hide in the construction site (expanding the sanctuary) after Sunday School before “big church.” Most of the time the elders would find one of the two of us and the other would come out of hiding to not leave the other alone to suffer through the sermon without company. One elder, a balding red headed man, was very good at finding us. It took him a while but he usually was the one to find us.
Today, I thought I was going over to Alan & Leslies for a birthday lunch with them and the kiddos. Well, it was them and a bunch of our friends :). Very nice surprise.
AND … Leslie cooked Mexican food and it was wooonnndddeeerrrrfffffuuuulllll.
so good.
My birthday was two days ago but it was brand new all over again :). As for loot, I got another Starbucks gift card, TWO Borders Books gift cards and the plant and pot featured in this post :). I name all my plants (the living ones) so Alica joins Lolita and Larry on the balcony.
Of course I had fun with my friends talking about working on back yards, how Fantasia should never act like that again (did you see her on AI the other night?), how great guacamole is and how one of our dear friends got engaged. But I have to say, one thing (among the myriad blessings that my friends are ) what really really stood out as the funnest moment at lunch was getting to dance with two three year olds to Kool & The Gang’s “Celebrate.” It would start playing every time you would open up this one particular birthday card. Molly would just squeal, Isaac would get all embarassed but still shaking his head and being groovy and of course Uncle Randy acted a fool.
Awesome.
We had a good time. I need a nap before I tackle the leftovers :).
I am/was not a big big Coldplay fan. I have always thought they were creative and thoughtful but not a “fan.” However, I think The Long Brake may be correct. I hope so at least. I for one am getting exceedingly tired of the pop machine (all genres) and LOVE the idea of an artists project or piece actually speaking for itself. The best art in history stood on its own. I like the idea of busting out of the mold and not being processed through Hollywood, or Nashville for that matter, first.
This is a smart move for Coldplay and other artists who have done similar things. The pure artist (whether they are world class or not) won’t be threatened by this. There will always be the “industry” at some level but I also believe that the arts are on the comeback. I pray artists will not be throttled by the mediocrity enforced which turns the work into “product.”
Because Coldplay made this move, I am willing to investigate them further. Again, I think it is a smart move.
It hasn’t been five months but only five days. I am not back to blogging like I used to blog but I am thinking that I would like to leave the option of posting photos, art, fun videos I stumble across. Like the following video … Phil is a great singer.
It has been awesome to not even have the option to blog on the table this week. I do want to use all of my “writing” time to work on a number of larger projects.
At the same time, Joe and a couple of other regulars challenged me on my black and white-ness…all or nothing-ness with regard to the blog. That has stuck in my head. So while I am still “laying low” … I am going to open the door for creative blog posts. I will also continue to pray about the direction of this blog and will see how I feel led on September first.
Last week I woke up singing “Into The Ocean” by Blue October. I looked up the lyrics and the following verses stood out to me.
Where is the coastguard
I keep looking each direction
For a spotlight, give me something
I need something for protection
Maybe flotsam junk will do just fine
the jetsam sunk, I’m left behind
I’m treading for my life believe me
(How can I keep up this breathing)
Not knowing how to think
I scream aloud, begin to sink
My legs and arms are broken down
With envy for the solid ground
I’m reaching for the life within me
How can one man stop his ending
I thought of just your face
Relaxed, and floated into space
