First, let me apologize for all of the lyrics infused post titles. My mind has been thinking in song lyrics lately.
So anyway, I went running again yesterday evening and the weather turned absolutely horrid. It was only a slight drizzle of rain when I left my apartment but quickly turned into a downpour that left me completely drenched. I could have been mistaken for someone who went swimming in her running clothes. At first I was kind of disappointed after the high I was on following the prior day's moment of clarity. I did not think that the rain and wind's incessant pounding in my face and the bleak weather would get me into the proper spirit, but I ran on anyway.
Then a funny thing happened, I had another one of those moments. Marjorie Fair's Empty Room started playing from my shuffle and made everything alright. Better than alright, it made things magical again. I held out my hands and could feel the cold drops of rain gently prickling my palms. The puddles of water that were forming on the sidewalks happen to catch the light just right and made me feel like I was jogging down a perfectly lit runway. And Marjorie Fair put it all into perspective, all those silly things we worry about, well "This doesn't matter like it did before, this doesn't matter much anymore".
Does anyone remember the scene in The Shawshank Redemption when Tim Robbin's emerges from that sewer pipe? It felt like I should have gotten an aerial photo just like that in that exaxt moment.
Both of these experiences made me figure this playlist thing out. There are some songs that help keep your pace while running (Q-Tip's Breathe and Stop), there are some songs that make you feel like you running away from something (Joy Division's Digital) and there are some songs that make you feel like you are running toward something. Something better in fact. Don't Stop Believin' and Empty Room both made me feel like I was running for a reason.
I need more of that.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Hold On To That Feeling aka Best Run Evah
Broke in my new running shoes (tossed my old ones after February's Swamp Romp) and a new running playlist on my shuffle last night. It all amounted to the best run ever.
The most surprisingly awesome song to run to is Journey's Don't Stop Believin'. I thought it would be too slow to run to but added it to the playlist anyway. The song came on about halfway through my run, during my return trip along the Ala Wai and probably at the exact moment I needed it.
Man, if I could only bottle that feeling, endorphins pumping, sun setting and leaving a yellow glow on the mirrored buildings near Ala Moana, Steve Perry singing "It goes on and on and on and on...", I would know exactly what to give everyone for Christmas this year. It was sooo FAN-flipping-TASTIC in fact that I was ever so close to pounding my fist into the air in triumph :) Sometimes things just intersect perfectly and give you a sense of wonder. Luckily I was able to recognize that the moment was fleeting and savored every second of it. I think a lot of times these little moments spring up on us and we are too foolish to recognize them.
So excited to go running again tonight...
The most surprisingly awesome song to run to is Journey's Don't Stop Believin'. I thought it would be too slow to run to but added it to the playlist anyway. The song came on about halfway through my run, during my return trip along the Ala Wai and probably at the exact moment I needed it.
Man, if I could only bottle that feeling, endorphins pumping, sun setting and leaving a yellow glow on the mirrored buildings near Ala Moana, Steve Perry singing "It goes on and on and on and on...", I would know exactly what to give everyone for Christmas this year. It was sooo FAN-flipping-TASTIC in fact that I was ever so close to pounding my fist into the air in triumph :) Sometimes things just intersect perfectly and give you a sense of wonder. Luckily I was able to recognize that the moment was fleeting and savored every second of it. I think a lot of times these little moments spring up on us and we are too foolish to recognize them.
So excited to go running again tonight...
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Free Fallin'
According the Feng Shui calendar that I keep on my desk at work, today is the day to perform the "Petty Person Ritual". Apparently, the ritual involves luring a petty person into a vast open area or under a bridge and proceeding to beat the petty out of them. It is helpful if the petty person volunteers for the ritual.
After reading this, it kind of makes me think whether all those documentaries I've seen on gang violence and gang initiation rituals were just a big misunderstanding. Perhaps those youths were just overly concerned about their chi and trying to keep their yin and their yang in balance?
In any case, I'm not really a violent person so instead I decided I would just listen to a Tom Petty album later on tonight. I hope this has the same effect.
"...and I'll keep this world from draggin' me down, gonna stand my ground and I won't back down"
After reading this, it kind of makes me think whether all those documentaries I've seen on gang violence and gang initiation rituals were just a big misunderstanding. Perhaps those youths were just overly concerned about their chi and trying to keep their yin and their yang in balance?
In any case, I'm not really a violent person so instead I decided I would just listen to a Tom Petty album later on tonight. I hope this has the same effect.
"...and I'll keep this world from draggin' me down, gonna stand my ground and I won't back down"
Monday, March 2, 2009
Jammin' On The One or I Just Called to Say Stevie Wonder is the Shiznit
I read an article once about how musical leanings are often formed by what you are exposed to as a child. The theory makes perfect sense to me and explains why both my sister and I have a predilection for 70's folk music, my mom being a huge fan of Neil Young and the like. So it has kind of always puzzled me as to how I became such a huge fan of Stevie Wonder. I can remember liking Stevie Wonder for many years, but couldn't really place why or how I was exposed to little Stevie.
Enter the Cosby Show. I've been watching season 2 of The Cosby Show lately and came across the episode featuring Mr. Wonder, you know the episode when Stevie's limo hits Denise's car and he invites the family to a recording session to make it up to them. And then each member of the family sings a phrase or note which is compiled into a song. It's probably the most memorable episode for me (actually it might be a toss up between this episode, the Theo shirt episode and the one where Theo explains how he is gonna live off of baloney and cereal).
This realization is actually kind of startling to me, to think the Cosby Show had as much influence on me as my mom! Television is powerful medium, isn't it? In this case it was a real benefit, Stevie Wonder being the Shiznit and all.
As an aside, that crazy Huxtable Family totally cracks me up. Except for Vanessa.
Enter the Cosby Show. I've been watching season 2 of The Cosby Show lately and came across the episode featuring Mr. Wonder, you know the episode when Stevie's limo hits Denise's car and he invites the family to a recording session to make it up to them. And then each member of the family sings a phrase or note which is compiled into a song. It's probably the most memorable episode for me (actually it might be a toss up between this episode, the Theo shirt episode and the one where Theo explains how he is gonna live off of baloney and cereal).
This realization is actually kind of startling to me, to think the Cosby Show had as much influence on me as my mom! Television is powerful medium, isn't it? In this case it was a real benefit, Stevie Wonder being the Shiznit and all.
As an aside, that crazy Huxtable Family totally cracks me up. Except for Vanessa.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Nothing's Ever Gonna Keep You Down, You're The Best Around
So, as some of you may know, yesterday was the annual Swamp Romp put on be the Marine Corp. I was totally scared this year because I have not been keeping up with my running (work has been crazy and staying at the office til midnight is not really conducive to being able to run after work) and the course last year was completely challenging. Additionally, about 3 days ago I totally jacked up one of my toes. I have no idea how I did it, but it started turning red and swelling and looking like a cartoon toe that got hit by an anvil (I'm pretty sure this is not what actually injured my toe). I cared for the toe as best I could and luckily by race day I was back to non-hobbling form.
So now to the race day itself. I got up at about 5:00 yesterday morning, had a banana and some coffee and donned my team shirt. This year's team name was Swamp Bobbys. The name is hard to explain unless you are a fan of trashy MTV reality television, so take my word for it, it is a brilliant name. Concerned I would fall way behind my team I decided to go with the vibrant yellow construction worker OSHA requirement t-shirt, with my "Bobbie Bobby" nickname puffy painted on the back. Along with my bright teal duct taped shoes, I was a complete eyesore, but confident I would not get lost.
When we got to the Kaneohoe Marine Base the scene was complete chaos. Apparently a new group had taken over organizing the event this year and was not doing a very good job. There were lines everywhere and for everything. There was a line to register and pick up your race packet, a line to pick up your timing chip, a line for the bathroom and a line to start the race. Since there was no real way to tell the lines apart, you very well could have ended up relieving yourself at the packet pick-up booth.
When we finally picked up all of the components that we needed to start the race and signed all the necessary waivers, it turned out they had already passed our number. Luckily, they feed us into the line and we were able to start immediately rather than having to wait until all the other 300-some teams had begun.
The race started out the same as last year, a series of mud pits, several waste high barriers that you needed to jump over and a wooden ladder-like structure with an incline down the back. Sliding down the incline caused you to create a huge splash that sent mud up your nose and all over your face. Yes, this was all seeming very familiar.
After running through a few other pits we arrived at what must have been a 9 foot wall comprised of wooden logs that you had to pull yourself up and over. Everyone got themselves up and over successfully and we headed toward the long stretch of quicksand-like mud. The distance this year was substantially less than last year, probably a quarter mile or less. After traversing the mud we took off on the long stretch of pathway leading us around the base. I was completely proud of myself at this point because I was keeping up with the team and feeling pretty good about the pace we were keeping.
As we passed one of the race officials who was leisurely lounging in her beach chair, she taunted us all with her shout of "half-way to the half-way point". As if on cue, Heather steps on a rock which had no business in the middle of the road and goes down. The fall resulted in a sprained ankle. Being the trooper that she is, Heather decides to push on by walking the course to the little medical checkpoint that ended up being about a mile or so away. When we get to the checkpoint, the medics tell us that they can either treat the injury or transport her back to the starting point. Heather decides to think about it and treat the injury in the meantime. After pulling off the ace bandage that we re-purposed for her ankle, Heather's puffy swollen ankle was revealed. That rock was not messing around. Once she is treated they give her one last chance to be taken back to the start, apparently one of the other race participant had a few blisters and could not hack the remainder of the race. Heather notifies everyone that she is going to finish. which resulted in cheers all around and high fives from the medics. It was pretty much equivalent to that scene in Karate Kid when they announce Daniel Laruso is going to fight!
So we started back on the course walking the rest of the way, though a few more mud pits, a beach run, low crawl and final stretch of mud. Making it to the finish line in a respectable 2 hours or so. Teams without injuries were still trickling in behind us.
The core group of us who finished the race for the second year decided that this year's race was drastically easier than last year. Where was the giant A-frame, the monkey bars, the huge mud pit that was so dense you could only crawl on top of it, or the stretch of sewer pipe that you needed to crawl through? Why was this years race so much shorter? Oh well, there is always next year.
Before the race I was expecting to wake up this morning feeling like 7 different kinds of awful. But my minor bruises, small scrapes and sore thighs only really total up to 2 kinds of awful. I guess I'll need to come up with 5 more kinds of awful so that I can feel accomplished. It is still early so leptospirosis and/or pneumonia can't be ruled out yet. Pray for me...
So now to the race day itself. I got up at about 5:00 yesterday morning, had a banana and some coffee and donned my team shirt. This year's team name was Swamp Bobbys. The name is hard to explain unless you are a fan of trashy MTV reality television, so take my word for it, it is a brilliant name. Concerned I would fall way behind my team I decided to go with the vibrant yellow construction worker OSHA requirement t-shirt, with my "Bobbie Bobby" nickname puffy painted on the back. Along with my bright teal duct taped shoes, I was a complete eyesore, but confident I would not get lost.
When we got to the Kaneohoe Marine Base the scene was complete chaos. Apparently a new group had taken over organizing the event this year and was not doing a very good job. There were lines everywhere and for everything. There was a line to register and pick up your race packet, a line to pick up your timing chip, a line for the bathroom and a line to start the race. Since there was no real way to tell the lines apart, you very well could have ended up relieving yourself at the packet pick-up booth.
When we finally picked up all of the components that we needed to start the race and signed all the necessary waivers, it turned out they had already passed our number. Luckily, they feed us into the line and we were able to start immediately rather than having to wait until all the other 300-some teams had begun.
The race started out the same as last year, a series of mud pits, several waste high barriers that you needed to jump over and a wooden ladder-like structure with an incline down the back. Sliding down the incline caused you to create a huge splash that sent mud up your nose and all over your face. Yes, this was all seeming very familiar.
After running through a few other pits we arrived at what must have been a 9 foot wall comprised of wooden logs that you had to pull yourself up and over. Everyone got themselves up and over successfully and we headed toward the long stretch of quicksand-like mud. The distance this year was substantially less than last year, probably a quarter mile or less. After traversing the mud we took off on the long stretch of pathway leading us around the base. I was completely proud of myself at this point because I was keeping up with the team and feeling pretty good about the pace we were keeping.
As we passed one of the race officials who was leisurely lounging in her beach chair, she taunted us all with her shout of "half-way to the half-way point". As if on cue, Heather steps on a rock which had no business in the middle of the road and goes down. The fall resulted in a sprained ankle. Being the trooper that she is, Heather decides to push on by walking the course to the little medical checkpoint that ended up being about a mile or so away. When we get to the checkpoint, the medics tell us that they can either treat the injury or transport her back to the starting point. Heather decides to think about it and treat the injury in the meantime. After pulling off the ace bandage that we re-purposed for her ankle, Heather's puffy swollen ankle was revealed. That rock was not messing around. Once she is treated they give her one last chance to be taken back to the start, apparently one of the other race participant had a few blisters and could not hack the remainder of the race. Heather notifies everyone that she is going to finish. which resulted in cheers all around and high fives from the medics. It was pretty much equivalent to that scene in Karate Kid when they announce Daniel Laruso is going to fight!
So we started back on the course walking the rest of the way, though a few more mud pits, a beach run, low crawl and final stretch of mud. Making it to the finish line in a respectable 2 hours or so. Teams without injuries were still trickling in behind us.
The core group of us who finished the race for the second year decided that this year's race was drastically easier than last year. Where was the giant A-frame, the monkey bars, the huge mud pit that was so dense you could only crawl on top of it, or the stretch of sewer pipe that you needed to crawl through? Why was this years race so much shorter? Oh well, there is always next year.
Before the race I was expecting to wake up this morning feeling like 7 different kinds of awful. But my minor bruises, small scrapes and sore thighs only really total up to 2 kinds of awful. I guess I'll need to come up with 5 more kinds of awful so that I can feel accomplished. It is still early so leptospirosis and/or pneumonia can't be ruled out yet. Pray for me...
Friday, February 27, 2009
A Riddle...
If on a random Thursday afternoon while at work you receive a humongous box from a friend who has recently moved to Japan, what is the best thing you could possible find inside of it???
Answer: An assortment of like 50 different kinds of super yummy snacks and a fantastically cute and uber Japanesie wrapped birthday gift!!! I am being good and waiting til next week to open the gift, but boy am I enjoying the snacks!!!
Thank you Maggie-chan. A million times thank you!!
Answer: An assortment of like 50 different kinds of super yummy snacks and a fantastically cute and uber Japanesie wrapped birthday gift!!! I am being good and waiting til next week to open the gift, but boy am I enjoying the snacks!!!
Thank you Maggie-chan. A million times thank you!!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Deko Boko Friends
I LOOOOOOVEEEEE this so hard, Deko Boko Friends is the cutest thing ever! Check out these characters:
Acorn Tots (どんぐりん Dongurin from 団栗 donguri meaning acorn. Adding an 'n' makes the name not only cute sounding, but more personal.)
The Acorn Tots are five small acorn-children who hold one large acorn in both hands. They are best friend and rivals. Each tries to be better than all the rest.
Belly Boing A.K.A The fat kid (くいしんボン Kuishinbon from 食いしん坊 kuishinbou meaning glutton.)
Belly Boing is constantly thinking of food. He likes eating sweets, and he can create a drum sound by pounding on his large stomach.
Big Oggo & Mu Mu (オオガーラとムクムク Ōgāra to Mukumuku literally Ōgāra and Mukumuku from 大柄 ōgara meaning large build and 尨犬 mukuinu meaning shaggy dog)
Despite his image as a lumbering giant, Big Oggo is very sweet and lovable with an affinity to anything cute.
Mu Mu is his friend, a pink toy poodle who curiously moo's instead of barking.
Disabear (あなくま Anakuma from 穴 ana meaning hole and 熊 kuma meaning bear)
Disabear uses plates he tosses on the ground to make holes. He whistles while he walks and uses an accent.
Grandma Fuji (ふじおばば Fuji Obaba from 富士 fuji meaning Mount Fuji and お祖母さん obāsan meaning grandmother)
Grandma Fuji is the epitome of Japanese tradition. She enjoys singing enka, writing haiku, calligraphy, and hosting tea ceremonies.
Kaki Kaki (サボサボ Sabosabo from サボテン saboten meaning cactus)
Kaki Kaki is a cactus like boy. He is extremely nervous and timid, his spines fall off whenever he is surprised or scared.
Ken Bahn (ケン・バーン Ken Bān from 鍵盤 kenban meaning keyboard)
Ken has a keyboard for teeth and he plays them whenever he is in a good mood. He likes to wobble and lean as he walks.
Klinki Klunki (カランコロン Karankoron from カラン コロン karan koron meaning an onomatopoeia for the reverberating sounds of tinkling bells or a glass tapped by ice)
Klinki is very laid back and hates when juice falls out of his glass, because his face shrinks. He likes to see everyone as laid back as he is.
Melodina (メロディーヌ Merodīnu from メロディー merodī meaning melody)
Melodina is very musical. She even makes her speech resemble a melody. She likes to skip and when she does she makes sounds like a toy piano.
Nut'n Nose (はなはなマロン Hanahana Maron from 鼻 hana meaning nose and マロン maron meaning chestnut)
Nut'n Nose resembles a chestnut. Quite possibly from his love of Mont Blanc, an Italian dessert cake made with the nut. His nose can be inflated like a balloon, and when he tries hard to do something, his tail swings.
The Prince Egg (たまごおうじ Tamago Ōji literally Egg Prince from 卵 (also 玉子) tamago meaning egg and 王子 ōji meaning prince)
The Prince Egg is a prince of an unknown kingdom. His egg hat boils and cracks when he gets angry. When the pieces fall to the floor, he picks them all up, using tiny brisk steps.
Water Chap (じょうろう Jourō from じょうろ jouro meaing watering can)
Water Chap has a head like a watering can, which he uses like one to grow flowers and give them as gifts.
The creator also designed the Qoo mascot. I soooo want the group photo as another tattoo.
And in case you don't speak Japanese, Deko Boko is a kind of slang for being uneven or lop-sided (kind of like a Japanese version of Kapakahi).
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