"Your Long Journey"
God's given us years of happiness here,
now we must part.
And as the angels come and call for you,
the pains of grief tug at my heart.
Oh my darling,
my darling,
my heart breaks as you take your long journey.
Oh the days will be empty,
the nights so long without you my love.
And when God calls for you I'm left alone,
but we will meet in Heaven above.
Oh my darling,
my darling,
my heart breaks as you take your long journey.
Fond memories I'll keep of happy ways,
that on earth we trod.
And when I come,
we will walk hand in hand,
as one in Heaven in the family of God.
Oh my darling,
my darling,
my heart breaks as you take your long journey.
--A.D. and Rosalee Watson
Godspeed, Uncle Roger. Be at peace!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
Yes, Virginia, there is an Elvis!
At mile seven, we could have run-in at the “Run-Through Wedding Chapel.” Alas, that is still not allowed for my kind. But, it was fun to watch a few dozen people run through to get married or renew their vows. And no Las Vegas wedding is complete without running Elviiiiii. At the chapel, the Elvises gathered to serenade the couples with various songs that Elvis made famous, including “Love Me Tender.” While it was a sweet gesture, I certainly hope these people don’t quit their day jobs.
Everywhere you looked there were running Elvises, most of them complete with a wig and fancy sunglasses. I ran with one of these Elvis people for about a mile and asked him lots of questions.
Me: Doesn’t the wig bother you?
Elvis: No, it is actually kind of warm.
Me: What about the white spandex pants?
Elvis: Not too bad. I took the sock out at mile 15. It started to bother me.
Me: Sock?
Elvis: I had to really make it look like Elvis had a big package.
Me: Oh.
Me: What makes one want to run as Elvis?
Elvis: I lost a bet.
Me: Oh? When?
Elvis: Last night.
It was at that point in the conversation that I decided it was time to let my new Elvis friend take the lead and get going. While I didn’t see him again, over the course of the 26.2, I did see dozens of these characters, including men, women, and even a running Elvis-family with two little Elvises. While a bit over-the-top, they were adorable.
A group of running Elvises was pushing two carts. One cart had a portable stereo system with speakers blaring a remix of “A Little Less Conversation.” The other cart had a cooler of beer. It wouldn’t have been as shocking at mile 20 as it was at mile five. I just wonder how if someone ended up riding on the cart and in the cooler!
White Elvis, Pink Elvis, Camo Elvis, Young Elvis, Old Elvis, Wheelchair Elvis, Elvis with blow up guitar, Elvis with blow up Marilyn Monroe doll, Elvis with a blow up doll. They were everywhere and it was fantastic.
Be well friends and here’s hoping you don’t have a “Bluuuuuuu Christmas.”
Everywhere you looked there were running Elvises, most of them complete with a wig and fancy sunglasses. I ran with one of these Elvis people for about a mile and asked him lots of questions.
Me: Doesn’t the wig bother you?
Elvis: No, it is actually kind of warm.
Me: What about the white spandex pants?
Elvis: Not too bad. I took the sock out at mile 15. It started to bother me.
Me: Sock?
Elvis: I had to really make it look like Elvis had a big package.
Me: Oh.
Me: What makes one want to run as Elvis?
Elvis: I lost a bet.
Me: Oh? When?
Elvis: Last night.
It was at that point in the conversation that I decided it was time to let my new Elvis friend take the lead and get going. While I didn’t see him again, over the course of the 26.2, I did see dozens of these characters, including men, women, and even a running Elvis-family with two little Elvises. While a bit over-the-top, they were adorable.
A group of running Elvises was pushing two carts. One cart had a portable stereo system with speakers blaring a remix of “A Little Less Conversation.” The other cart had a cooler of beer. It wouldn’t have been as shocking at mile 20 as it was at mile five. I just wonder how if someone ended up riding on the cart and in the cooler!
White Elvis, Pink Elvis, Camo Elvis, Young Elvis, Old Elvis, Wheelchair Elvis, Elvis with blow up guitar, Elvis with blow up Marilyn Monroe doll, Elvis with a blow up doll. They were everywhere and it was fantastic.
Be well friends and here’s hoping you don’t have a “Bluuuuuuu Christmas.”
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Las Vegas Marathon
Most people travel to Las Vegas for a long weekend of gluttonous eating, drinking, gambling, shopping, and whatever other fetishes they may have. Some people travel to Vegas to see the glitz and the glamour of Hollywood stars, Broadway shows, and extraordinary boxing events.
Then there are those of us who go to Las Vegas to spend four hours running 26.2 miles at 6am on a Sunday morning. I can see the relation between me and the above mentioned people. Don’t you?
The alarm went off at 4am on Sunday morning, signaling it was time to choke down a banana and a bagel. As I crawled out of the fantastic bed, I started to question this obsession I have with running endless miles, all for a t-shirt and a medal. So I started to apply the bodylube. Yes, friends, you read it right—body lube. Actually, it is called BodyGlide. It is the deodorant-stick looking miracle substance that prevents my nipples from bleeding and my legs (and other sensitive areas) from chafing. It is truly the wonder substance and a serious necessity for long runs.
My running friends and I met at 5am in the lobby of Mandalay Bay and headed outside into the 35 degree weather and toward the starting line for this race that would consume a half a day of our lives. We were joining about 12,000 other people who were preparing to run either 13.1 miles or 26.2 miles. Regardless of the distance, it is a bit excessive.
The first three miles of the run take us up the famous Las Vegas Strip, passing all of the big hotels and casinos. This was by far the most amusing part of the entire run, only because it was fun to see hundreds if not thousands of people still out partying from the night before. Here were people who haven’t slept in 24 hours or longer, yelling, screaming, slugging back beers and yards of daiquiris in long plastic chemistry-looking tubes, cheering us along and offering us a drink of their cocktails. No thank you. Not quite yet.
We passed these two ladies standing on the side of the street wearing very, very risqué little black dresses that looked as if someone had tried to rip them off their bodies AND no shoes. Keep in mind it is still 35 degrees outside. They really looked pretty tragic, as if they had been on a severe drug and alcohol binge for months. As we were running past, one of the girls looked me right in the eye and screamed “Yes, we are sluts, we know it.”
I almost wet myself.
I’ll let the first part of this experience end right here, but promise to post a few more stories from the run. Just know that after 4 hours and 19 minutes of running, I crossed the finish line. One of my current colleagues finished in 4 hours and 23 minutes and a former colleague crossed the line at just over 5 hours. One other friend of ours ran the half-marathon and finished in 2 hours and some change. We certainly had lots to celebrate the rest of the day and the rest of the trip!
Be well friends and I am open for next-race destination suggestions.
Then there are those of us who go to Las Vegas to spend four hours running 26.2 miles at 6am on a Sunday morning. I can see the relation between me and the above mentioned people. Don’t you?
The alarm went off at 4am on Sunday morning, signaling it was time to choke down a banana and a bagel. As I crawled out of the fantastic bed, I started to question this obsession I have with running endless miles, all for a t-shirt and a medal. So I started to apply the bodylube. Yes, friends, you read it right—body lube. Actually, it is called BodyGlide. It is the deodorant-stick looking miracle substance that prevents my nipples from bleeding and my legs (and other sensitive areas) from chafing. It is truly the wonder substance and a serious necessity for long runs.
My running friends and I met at 5am in the lobby of Mandalay Bay and headed outside into the 35 degree weather and toward the starting line for this race that would consume a half a day of our lives. We were joining about 12,000 other people who were preparing to run either 13.1 miles or 26.2 miles. Regardless of the distance, it is a bit excessive.
The first three miles of the run take us up the famous Las Vegas Strip, passing all of the big hotels and casinos. This was by far the most amusing part of the entire run, only because it was fun to see hundreds if not thousands of people still out partying from the night before. Here were people who haven’t slept in 24 hours or longer, yelling, screaming, slugging back beers and yards of daiquiris in long plastic chemistry-looking tubes, cheering us along and offering us a drink of their cocktails. No thank you. Not quite yet.
We passed these two ladies standing on the side of the street wearing very, very risqué little black dresses that looked as if someone had tried to rip them off their bodies AND no shoes. Keep in mind it is still 35 degrees outside. They really looked pretty tragic, as if they had been on a severe drug and alcohol binge for months. As we were running past, one of the girls looked me right in the eye and screamed “Yes, we are sluts, we know it.”
I almost wet myself.
I’ll let the first part of this experience end right here, but promise to post a few more stories from the run. Just know that after 4 hours and 19 minutes of running, I crossed the finish line. One of my current colleagues finished in 4 hours and 23 minutes and a former colleague crossed the line at just over 5 hours. One other friend of ours ran the half-marathon and finished in 2 hours and some change. We certainly had lots to celebrate the rest of the day and the rest of the trip!
Be well friends and I am open for next-race destination suggestions.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Never Regret!
“Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. Love the people who treat you right, forget about those who don't, and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.”
Sometimes people come into our lives and leave before we are ready for them to go. We never really understand why they decide that it is time, but we are forced to accept it, hug them goodbye, and let go of their hands, hoping that they find happiness.
And we try to be resilient. Through the anger, the tears, the frustrations, we realize that life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. We see that there is a brighter side, no matter how betrayed we may feel. We realize that sometimes we say things too late for them to take hold in the other person’s emotions.
Then we turn to our friends. We turn to those who love us unconditionally, not the ones who call us their friend, all the while betraying us. We turn to those who want to be with us through the anger, the tears, and the frustrations. They are the ones who truly understand what friendship means and its lasting effects.
Life is good. The future is good. Even through the pain, we must realize that taking life one day at a time with people who are willing to walk with us on this journey is what is most important.
Nobody said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it!
Be well, friends, and be willing to take a walk with someone you love. It may take a while, but it will be worth it!
Sometimes people come into our lives and leave before we are ready for them to go. We never really understand why they decide that it is time, but we are forced to accept it, hug them goodbye, and let go of their hands, hoping that they find happiness.
And we try to be resilient. Through the anger, the tears, the frustrations, we realize that life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. We see that there is a brighter side, no matter how betrayed we may feel. We realize that sometimes we say things too late for them to take hold in the other person’s emotions.
Then we turn to our friends. We turn to those who love us unconditionally, not the ones who call us their friend, all the while betraying us. We turn to those who want to be with us through the anger, the tears, and the frustrations. They are the ones who truly understand what friendship means and its lasting effects.
Life is good. The future is good. Even through the pain, we must realize that taking life one day at a time with people who are willing to walk with us on this journey is what is most important.
Nobody said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it!
Be well, friends, and be willing to take a walk with someone you love. It may take a while, but it will be worth it!
Monday, December 3, 2007
Starbucks
Is it bad that every year when Starbucks announces the arrival of the red holiday cups that I get overly excited? I actually throw a minicelebration and one of my best friends Cindy and I have a long conversation over our respective holiday beverages.
My biggest problem now is that there is a Starbucks literally 20 steps away from my office and another just one block from our front door. Every day I have to walk by a Starbucks and see the visions of the red holiday cups in the windows. I pass people on the streets sipping from their brightly colored containers, steaming in the cold air. Even the homeless on the streets have these wonderful reminders of the holidays.
To make matters worse, I live two blocks from a Starbucks and if I go for a walk, I am always tempted to drop in just to see if those baristas will remember my face and my drink. I think after a few more weeks of regular visits, it will become another of my “Cheers of coffeeshops.”
Each day, I get at least one email or phone call from a friend or colleague asking to partake in cup of holiday cheer. Yesterday, as it happens, I had three. And yes, I went three times. And yes, that cost me more than $10 in coffee. TEN DOLLARS! I KNOW!!!
What is it about Starbucks that draws us in every time? The coffee really isn’t that good. I am convinced that they over-roast and that makes their brews a bit bitter to me. Perhaps it is the fact that at my little local shop, the baristas know me and know what I want when I walk in the door. Again, maybe that is because I am there every day. Is it the atmosphere—walking into a warm space with comfortable chairs and the smells of brewing coffee? Is it a status symbol to walk around with the Starbucks cup in your hand, screaming to the world, “I just paid too much for this cup of coffee?” Or is it just ingrained into our society and we just do it because it is there?
Regardless, there aren’t many “little things in life” that can make me smile like a grande, non-fat, light whip, mocha in the red holiday cup. It is one of those sinfully delicious treats that always brightens even the gloomiest of days.
Word on the street has it that Dunkin Donuts is moving in next door to my office entrance, even closer than Starbucks. And I do love some Dunkin Donuts coffee. And I just hate to be a cheater too. I hope my baristas don’t get too jealous.
Be well, friends, and enjoy a cup of coffee this holiday season!
My biggest problem now is that there is a Starbucks literally 20 steps away from my office and another just one block from our front door. Every day I have to walk by a Starbucks and see the visions of the red holiday cups in the windows. I pass people on the streets sipping from their brightly colored containers, steaming in the cold air. Even the homeless on the streets have these wonderful reminders of the holidays.
To make matters worse, I live two blocks from a Starbucks and if I go for a walk, I am always tempted to drop in just to see if those baristas will remember my face and my drink. I think after a few more weeks of regular visits, it will become another of my “Cheers of coffeeshops.”
Each day, I get at least one email or phone call from a friend or colleague asking to partake in cup of holiday cheer. Yesterday, as it happens, I had three. And yes, I went three times. And yes, that cost me more than $10 in coffee. TEN DOLLARS! I KNOW!!!
What is it about Starbucks that draws us in every time? The coffee really isn’t that good. I am convinced that they over-roast and that makes their brews a bit bitter to me. Perhaps it is the fact that at my little local shop, the baristas know me and know what I want when I walk in the door. Again, maybe that is because I am there every day. Is it the atmosphere—walking into a warm space with comfortable chairs and the smells of brewing coffee? Is it a status symbol to walk around with the Starbucks cup in your hand, screaming to the world, “I just paid too much for this cup of coffee?” Or is it just ingrained into our society and we just do it because it is there?
Regardless, there aren’t many “little things in life” that can make me smile like a grande, non-fat, light whip, mocha in the red holiday cup. It is one of those sinfully delicious treats that always brightens even the gloomiest of days.
Word on the street has it that Dunkin Donuts is moving in next door to my office entrance, even closer than Starbucks. And I do love some Dunkin Donuts coffee. And I just hate to be a cheater too. I hope my baristas don’t get too jealous.
Be well, friends, and enjoy a cup of coffee this holiday season!
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