Just got in a lil while ago...hot and muggy today, but feels like summer, yay! Just a few thoughts on the passing scene...1st, the whole Pledge of Allegiance thing; perhaps the atheists in question do have some valid concerns over the "under God" phrase, but it's also worth noting that references to a Higher Power permeate our alleged seperation of church and state (more accurately, it is an "Establishment Clause" prohibiting the establishment of a national church, not banishing faith completely from all public spheres); the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights reference rights endowed by a "Creator", our Presidents place their hands on- gasp!- a Bible when being sworn in, as do witnesses in trials ("So help me, God"), "In God We Trust" is printed on our currency, will all of these be declared unconstitutional by some activist judiciary as well? While some non-believers (and BTW, no particular religion is being cited; the "God" in question could be that of any belief) may be discomforted to some extent, it seems courts in other cases have allowed that "offensive" speech, even that partially funded by government dollars (see: controversial NEA endowments), is protected. But more to the point, aren't there other, more legitimate, more aggregious violations of law and rights and conduct for our courts to be concerned with? 2nd, the latest accounting fiasco...WorldCom...I'm a big believer in private markets, free enterprise, lack of excessive regulation, etc...but these recent accounting scandals have shaken confidence in the market, and w/ some reason. Much like gambling, if "players" (in this case, potential investors) believe the "game" is rigged or fixed, they'll take their money elsewhere, eventually causing the company that cooked its books to lose capital, as well as increasing pressure for government to step in and try to "fix" things. Some are decrying these as the result of our President's alleged coziness w/ "Big Business", but honestly, is anyone naive enuf to believe these practices ALL began only after January 21, 2001? Indeed, it is the Bush Justice Department that is beginning prosecution of these crimes, as well they should. Short answer- prosecute the offenders (sounds like "Law & Order", huh?! ;), and increase the incentives to encourage corporations to report honestly, w/out massive regulation in the process. OK, I'll stop!

"Surrender, surrender, but don't give yourself away..."

Just got back a lil while ago from a weekend spent w/ my brother and his wife & kids (and dog and cat!) up in Maine- first weekend away in a l-o-n-g time! It was good to see them again, hadn't seen 'em in awhile, its a fairly long trip to their part of Maine, takes a lil time set aside to go. Pretty up there, and quite different from Boston and the area; mountains, large lakes, wooded lands, and SO much less development and people! So quiet, too (except for the kids and the dog, hee!)- not just compared to Boston, but to the 'burbs around here as well, and a slower pace, to everything. I imagine its a pretty good place to raise kids, but not a lot to do there socially if you're out of school and single, much less in your early 30's. If I may get a lil serious for a moment or two, it also reminded, for good and bad, about something that, increasingly, seems like I may not experience, the whole "married w/ children" bit. I'm not sure exactly how I feel about that; I mean, I love the kids, and they're good kids, but part of me really likes my independence, my routine to a degree, and quiet (gosh, kids can be LOUD!!!), as well as the more obvious reasons about why having the family like that is probably a stretch at this point (like...the life behind the website you're currently visiting here!) I do know some T-folk who had the wives, have the kids, etc...but often these were either before they made their definitive life choice, or during a period of trying to live the "typical" life. Who knows; without divulging too much of my, and my family's, personal lives, my sister, who's also older and married, has no desire to have kids (which is probably best, both for her and for the potential children she won't be having.) Still, there is something that seems like it should be soooo right about having and raising a family, playing with, watching children grow, the successes, the heartbreaks, the milestones, etc...

"In the park I saw a daddy with a laughin' little girl that he was swingin'/And I stopped beside a Sunday school and listened to the song that they were singin'..."

What a beautiful evening- the kind of weather we wait all year for around here! A warm, sunny day/evening can seem to make so many worries, stresses, divisions, etc...lessen in importance, and make it easier to focus on our "better angels" as they are, and of those around us. Evenings like this also remind how precious the good days (and the good people who fill them) are, and hopefully help us be a little more appreciative of them. Kinda sappy tonite, I know! ;)

"I've got a peaceful, easy feelin'..."

First, a moment of silence in remembrance of the passing last week of Douglas Glenn Colvin. Who? Answer at the end...A rainy morning, no run this am (first running reference in awhile! I had an acquaintance derisively comment recently that "all you do is run..." Au contraire, Gwendolyn...I also lift, do StairMaster, take an occasional class, even play some hoops, hee! Actually I do many things that she just didn't seem capable of relating to...) So, the Lakers three-peated...gotta give Phil Jackson his props...but I'm STILL more of a college hoops fan than NBA these days (more interesting coaches, too! ;) The Pats released the "big Kat;" probably best all-around, still its disappointing to see such potential apparently gone (LB Andy Katzenmoyer)...and for the hockey puck crowd, congrats to the Wings (tho' it would've been cool to see the Hurricanes, nee Whalers, win it!)...There are a couple of folks whom I care about who are having a bit of hard time lately; one won't really share much of what the problem is, the other has a parent who has had some health-related problems recently...you're both in my thoughts and prayers, wish there were more I could do...Flag Day- whatever your particular views, I hope you can show your respect for the ideals and values our flag stands for; warts and all, America is a pretty special place! RIP, DeeDee Ramone ;)

"Twenty, twenty, twenty four hours to go/I wanna be sedated..."

Just got home and showered a little while ago; spent much of the mid/late afternoon and early evening on the South Shore helping a friend pack and move some stuff in advance of their house-moving next week, after an early afternoon of, well, you know...Honoring long-held commitments, loyalties, and responsibilities, be they to family, friends, employers...seems misplaced to some, I know; maybe I take it to an extreme, but I'm seldom comfortable putting myself first at the expense of others...and I'm NOT "whining" or "moaning" :) Anyway...Sox were swept this weekend vs. the D'backs, but my friend Karen must be happy (and her heartthrob, David Dellucci, had a single today, too!)...it's a commentary on our times when Ozzy Osbourne is embraced of sorts by "the Establishment", including the President! (Wonder if Tipper Gore is still banning/burning his records?!)...similarly, while I've never been one for drugs, and I'm as glad as anyone that Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and crew are clean, sober, upright members of the community, does anyone truly, deep in their hearts, believe that Aerosmith rocks just as hard today as they did back in the day? Understand- country stars should be swilling beer, blues players pulling on a bottle of Jack, rock & rollers ingesting any and all illcit substances offered! Sorry, I'm tired! ;)

"He's your oldest and your best friend/If you need him, he'll be there again/He's always willing to be second best/A perfect lodger, a perfect guest..."

A young boy went up to his father and asked, "What's the difference between potentially and realistically?" The father answered, "Go ask your mother if she'd sleep with Robert Redford for a million dollars. Also, ask your sister if she'd sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars. Come back and tell me what you have learned."

So the boy asked his mother and she replied, "Of course I would! I wouldn't pass up an oportunity like that!" He later asked his sister, and she replied, "Oh yes! I'd be nuts to pass that up!"

The boy then thought about about it for a couple of days and went back to his dad. His father asked him, "So, did you find out the difference between potentially and realistically?"

"Yes," the boy replied, "potentially we're sitting on two million dollars, but realistically we're living with two sluts!"

"You're the only one that I rely on/A shoulder there for me to cry on..."

A hippopotamus walks into a bar and asks the bartender for a beer. The bartender serves the hippo and says "That will be $7.50." So the hippo pays the bartender and starts to sip his beer. "You know, we don't get many hippos in here" the bartender says. The hippo replies, "At these prices, its not wonder!" Groan...;)

"Thunder only happens when its raining/Players only love you when they're playing..."

GREAT run this morning! Sun was up brightly, was a lil chilly, almost September-y, but felt great! The knee felt fine, the brace seems to help a lot (that, or the various supplements I take: glucosamin condroitin, fish oil, plus chromium picolinate, potassium, zinc, ginkgo, et al...just call me the supplement queen! ;) And hey- did anyone else see the grapefruit that swelled on the head of Hasim Rahman after "accidentally" being head-butted by Evander Holyfield Saturday night?! Yikes, was that gross!

At times I get bummed out over how I've disappointed people I care about. I know I'm close to losing one relationship I care very deeply about keeping and growing, and its mainly because of me. I don't know why I can't/won't be more assertive in making the time to do more of what I want to do, to be more of the person I want to be. Too often I just let myself get too cozy in my little comfort zone, rather than more vigorously challenging myself in so many ways, taking more of a chance. There are so many people out there, good people, to meet, so many places to see, ideas to consider, chances to take, etc...but too often I just let myself get caught up in my day-to-day routine. Call it being responsible, call it loyalty, call it fear, call it laziness, call it whatever, but I know I have to make more time to be me, and I apologize to any I may've disappointed to date.

"I think a change would do you good..."

Went to mass this morning, first time I've been in a lil while; I don't go as often as perhaps I should, for probably the worst reason of all- laziness! I don't wear my religion on my sleeve or anything (tho' I have one acquaintance who would vociferously disagree), and there are some things that I have disagreement with, and certainly the recent scandals have been abhorrent, but I do get some benefit from the more spiritual aspects of it. And I'm sure these aren't limited or particular to Catholicism; its simply the expression I'm most familiar/accustomed/comfortable with. Anyway...Celtics lost, they're out of it, boo! What a good run tho', exceeded most expectations! Now it's up to the Sox...

"God only knows what I'd be without you..."