Fire Just Waiting for Fuel

I couldn’t see getting home and not writing about tonight. It was a great night, had my me, myself and I.  Going solo is not always a bad thing and I’ve never had a date that enjoyed Ani Difranco, so I took myself on a date.  Liberty Hall in Lawrence was PACKED to the brim with loyal fans and the first set was a really good artist who could be mistaken for Ani’s sister and a guy by the title of Bo Ramsey.  VERY good musicians, both of them. 

Then came Ani.  I’ve wanted to see her live since I was fifteen, and even then a good vote-ready Republican, though I had no legal status then.  So, I knew what I was getting into by going to this and I had to remove the “NoBAMA” bumper sticker from my car.  That makes twice since I moved here because in the past week, I have been in Lawrence twice for great occasions as such.  It just doesn’t seem fitting to remain ardent in a town swarming with high, drunke hippies.  Okay, that’s not always the case either.  I will admit to the place being so laid-back that if I had gone there, I’d be a Libertarian.  When I drove back into Johnson County, even the atmosphere changed, and was no longer as thick with Democracy-ridden chants of Free Love, Hemp and a raucus of happy people.  Overland Park is a far cry different. 

And I knew this when I went, that there would be a planned parenthood, League of Women Voters and a “Rock the Vote” table for the youth who never otherwise vote to become Obaminators and make an unscrupulous choice with little or no judgement, but rather, free tee shirts and a promise of “hope” and “change”.  Tisk, Tisk.  Whatever they want.  And ya know, I could even stomach the particular crowd, because I’m having to overcome the lumping of people into social classes and stereotypes, something that lingers from childhood.  i kept an open mind, remembered that I was there because I think Ani has an unmistakably coy way of saying what’s on her mind. 

I also think that she hit on several things that I had been thinking on today.  First, let me say that while I was running a seven mile tempo run tonight after work, I thought about what Bob asked me….what do I think of Sarah Palin?  Well, in a nutshell:  That woman is gorgeous.  Let her take the stage.  Sarah has her head on straight.  Anyone with assertive skills and motherhood experience is a great gal.  We need real, objective thought and logic.  Any person that can give birth to five children, love them unconditionally, keep on providing for them, pursue her dreams, too, and maintain her sanity (liberals may argue with that)…….is someone I would like to lead the free world.  Anyone who can sit still and have temperance, patience, kindness, calm thoughts, and don a pair of glasses but still kick inferiority’s butt….Let her lead us!  Because truly, I doubt if either of the Presidents would be someone we’d look to for a full term, so i’m siding with the best Veep, and undoubtedly the lesser of two evils.  I am much like Sarah, with scads of the same skills, vocals, athletics, just no kids, no husband and no political office YET.  Someday, I’ll run for office and hope to take charge and command the forces as she can so gracefully do. 

Now, here’s the next thought.  Ani wrote two new songs that had to do with how a mother loves a child, and one of them was with the gore of birth (berth of birth??) and very well-done.  But I wonder, too, because she was so on with evolution’s bus and then turned around to sing about the creation of life and I wondered, “What happens to liberals when birth control doesn’t work, and do ardent pro-choicers who have children ever change their points of view?”

Something to consider when ‘rocking the vote’.  Also, though, how does the protection of Freedom and Liberty via liberation and celebration of free speech and free love, how does that tie in to the pro-choice lifestyle, too?  Brought to light when she sang “Glory of the Atom”.

In shorter form, though, it’s much like most of the musicians which I truly enjoy (granted I was listenig to Tchaikovsky’s fifth on the way to Lawrence); I really love the music, but don’t care for the politics, but they get me fired up and sometimes, I like to feel passionate about something.  Okay, most of the time.  But I will have to process these thoughts and reverb tomorrow or Wednesday night on OH so many things.  Also on why in the heck the NFL Commission chose Bruce Springsteen to do the Super Bowl Halftime show.  What in the world?!  What’s with the fossils as performers….that guy is old!  We need fresh blood…..let John Mayer do the halftime, or Rage Against the Machine, or Oasis, yeah Oasis!  Oh, I can think of at least 500 million people I’d rather see than Springsteen, so maybe I’ll have to express my opinion to the NFL.  Argh!  One more game like Sunday and I just might, except that I did score Chiefs-Titans tickets. 

Okay, totally tangental.  Time to cut out!  And David, I like the new layout, too, so we’re on an even playing field.  You’ve got to come visit!  But I found a 50 mile adventure race on the 11th.  Not much this weekend, just night runs, but the 18th is a marathon, the 25th another 50k…maybe say, November?  I invited Dave M. to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and the Lion King plays til the 25th…but Ben Folds is at Liberty October 22.

War Paint

Does no good if you’re not going to win!

I took the day off from reality and escaped to a jovial place full of streaming screams and masses of people.  It was similar to what I’d think of an enormous refuge, but with cheer, beer and sun…..so these people were by no means in dire straits.  Yeah, wait til you get in the stands!  I went to the Kansas City Chiefs/Denver Broncos NFL Matchup today with Paul, Nick and Laurie.  Just so  you know, these three are quite the epitomy of good friends.  They’ve got great character and have not foregone the nature of having fun.  I was ever so delighted to be in great company. 

Though I live here, it only seemed right to be on the side of the team with the winningest record.  And my, oh my, this has been one heck of a weekend, all too soon to come again!  It keeps me happy at work, for sure, though I really love my job anyhow.  I had to go against the grain; come on, you know this girl….always something to stand up for or against!  Okay, and I’ve not been a KC loyalist ever in my life.  But….dressed in blue, I painted my stomach blue (just in case Denver made a touchdown and I could showcase fanship), and all while we finally found parking and lit up the grill.  Two brats later, I was enjoying the sunshine…evidenced by what is now a proliferating first, maybe second degree sunburn.  I suppose the crowds that experience the highest rates of cancer are football fans and marathoners….but being the whitest white girl in America does not help my situation.  Sigh.

So, we set out to devour brats and made it to the game by the end of the first quarter.  I love Arrowhead….my favorite, no second favorite sports venue.  Invesco field!  Mind you, I have yet to get to Beijing to tour the facilities.  Well, Nick and Laurie had seats apart from Paul and I, which was fine…and we caught up after the game.  Surely you can catch all the play-by-play in the Star tomorrow, the ESPN books, or on NFL.com!  I won’t divulge the whole of the action.  But, let me say it was a lambasting disappointment!

As the day wore on, I got dreadfully sleepy.  After last night’s night run of almost three hours through the streets of Overland Park (total 18.62  miles), I was bushed!  Hadn’t taken in enough water either and goodness, am i tired!  Gonna have to rest here in a minute.

After hunting for some great deals, met up with a friend to watch the season premier of Family Guy (I am not shallow, but have some humor stowed away), and then had ice cream with Vincent.  Now, there’s a guy I like talking to, with a head on his shoulders and feet on the ground.  Awesome, if I do say so!  I think we have a skate park adventure Tuesday night, and I’m cooking, so it will surely be some sort of adventure!  I always have something cooking.

Oh, sigh.  So much to think about, way too tired, too little time.  I have to go jot things down on paper while I fall asleep to the hum of Ani Difranco tunes (can’t wait til tomorrow’s show at Liberty Hall!!!)

 

good night all, hope your weekend was as relishable as mine

 

Life……..is B.E.A. utiful!

Imperviously Thoughtful and Fruitful Day

Last night is where it all began.  I had a fabulous time and had gotten off work, with every intention of heading to Zona Rosa or Westport to hear some live music.  I suppose an awkward popularity seems to loom, despite my phone being currently and inevitably ‘deactivated’…..and I suppose this comes about after years, 23 plus, of sheer awkward life.  Strangely beautiful.  And I assimilate all things that happen as being positive, only for good.  Today got some grueling long though over a nice two-and-a-half hour run tonight when I got home.  With no phone access, piles of Ani Difranco CDs sitting around (I cannot wait to hear her play Monday at Liberty Hall!!!  Want to sing ‘Tis of Thee’ with her )….and with a few items cooked and ready to share, tailgating goods bought and refrigerated, facepaint, i mean, WAR PAINT, ready to go…..I had a load of laundry and wanted to go out but snocked that and hid in the safety of my own apartment.  After that run, first.  I saw more of Overland Park tonight in the dark than what is the norm during the hustle and bustle of the day.  I suppose that’s the beauty of either 5 a.m. or 9p.m…..when the world rests, there are the rest of us….

And listening to Ani makes me feel artsy and a little less inhibited in my writing.  But some can be attributed to confusion, lack of sleep as prior, a fire burning in my feet and in my soul….and some can be attributed to the excitement that waits in the wings, tomorrow, Monday, the rest of this week, the rest of my life….ah, sweet uncertainty!

I suppose last night was interesting for several reasons, quite superfluous some of them and others perplexing.  Keep the music coming…there we go.  So, I took K32 last night, just started driving.  hey, gas prices are lower, ya think I’m going to sit around???!  Nah, Napoleon has fuel.

The road led me to a mysterious structure, what appeared to be a quarry, or a factory buried in the shale and limestone walls.  But there were beaming lights, carved figures in the dimly lit lot, semi-trucks sitting there…..I had wished Matt were along because he’d have gone along with my whimsical and sometimes obstentious musings about paranormal activity….not that I truly believe.  Let’s be real, but i’m a big kid.  So, that made me think of Matt and I think he was disgusted and detested my politics, finally after enough.  It makes me wary, because in life I want NO enemies, not to drive anyone away.  Especially those that I hold close and I’m beginning to think that there are times when it will be best that I shut my mouth and play alon, be a part of the world……just a little removed, as always.

And that led me to thinking about ethics and morality, which I later went on to discuss a little bit with a friend whom I went to spend some valuable time with.  Valuable, this is key.  I really lathered the conversation with a bubbly sitz that included blondeness, criteria, and a smattering of laughter because of my unrealistic expectations and the reverberated feedback about radicalisms and the things in life that really do matter.  It was a safe haven, I’d go back in a heartbeat, and it was one of those nights to freeze in time, regardless of all else, in spite of the economy and politics and weather and science; in lieu of equality and balance and engrandizement….well;

So this morning I woke, went to pick up a one-way rental, HHR (that is the worst vehichle I’ve ever driven! poorly designed and very uncomfortable….made for stiff bodies and stiffer minds.  And it was gray, a far cry from my red Impala, which has a characteristic flare of youth and exuberance and maybe a little overzealousness attached.  It’s all intrinsic in value, not much more than a car, but still…quite defining.  And on the way, I got lost.   This makes the third time in 24 hours to get lost.  Snarf!  I felt blonder than blonde, have really been so scattered that I’m rather haphazard.  Needing a day of rest, a day of r and r with true blue friends.  A lot of meditation and maybe some sleep.  The road was longer this time, and that might have been that there was little to go back for.

Sad feeling, like the first time I went home for Christmas in college and cried the whole way home thinking what an imposition I was.  Hmm, in retrospect, should’ve stayed longer….now i know it was just hard for my parents to believe that i’d lived through the crap that had stacked up with anorexia and all the junk that came with it.  And it scared my Dad, whom I’ve never before and never since seen cry, but hugs now are not like a last breath, and I feel that there is an enormous torch to carry on.  If you know or knew any of my family, you’d understand.  They are all the most incredible people….and have virtually no idea how much I think so.  They don’t read this blog, by the way.  Far too busy and I doubt that it would be of genuine interest…and it’s a personally public diary.

But back to the trip.  I had lunch with Dave, great friend who will remain lifelong, because we are equally as strong in our beliefs, demeanor, personality, opinion and stubborn nature.  We’re equals, but he always seems to have the upper hand.  Somewhat the alter-ego of my friend down the road from K32.  But making a decisive analysis of either can be loaded and dangerous.  Dave was great to see, talk to, and I invited him also to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert.  He’d truly enjoy and appreciate the show.  I needed a hug from Dave, it was perfect medicine, a good band-aid and to have someone tell you you are missed, needed and that they still wish you the best, even that you look nice; small things; Dave’s a godsend, one of those people right there when you need them, but it’s seemingly all the time. 

So, before ending this, it’s two in the morning and i need to shut off the thoughts, carry more notepads around to jot down thoughts on, more film for more photos.  I’m pausing in thought.  All the blog posts will come in due time.  I started reading a new book, well eight or nine, but it’s on the philosophy of running and I have some cool biochem studies and analysis to throw in there.  But I had six hours of thinking about the economy, politics, foreign relations, putting my IRA into gold, cool new monuments, legislature, fiscal and social shortcomings, how gorgeous the leaves were in Springfield and oh, how i will be missing that this fall!  I’m going to continue climbing tomorrow, reach the summit and jump off……see where the pen lands tomorrow (today).  

By the way, let’s say Denver:56 Kansas City 20, eh?  I’ll be the one with blue war paint.

What I think about bosses working with their wives (Give up ridiculing the Funk!)

I don ‘t think there is a particular verse in the Bible that talks about men and their wives working together, but you can ask philosophical questions all you want.  I’m sure you can find objective Rayndish answers about why it is bad to work neck-and-neck with your spouse, and for some this is true.  But let me cite an example of how this works:

I worked during college at a lumber yard.  I loved that job, so much that the manager and his wife nearly adopted me as their child and they were my surrogate collegiate parents.  Mentors.  Guidance counselors.  I got hit crossing a sidewalk one day on my bike..on the way to work…and went on to work.  They sent me home, fed me, prayed with and for me, helped me through a summer of physical torture and helped me get back to running.  I will be making a trip to see them in October/November.  (Reminds me that I should start Christmas cards in October this year….so many more to send!!!)  They worked side by side, desk by desk, loved each other every bit the same, always had consultation, always knew what was going on, could answer questions for the other person, a sort of ‘double’ if you will.  One strong, the other stronger. 

So, do I think there is anything wrong with the Funk and his wife working together?  In spite of the overridden veto today at the Kansas City City Hall Meeting, No.  I think they have proven its effectiveness and I went back to read this man’s initial Mayoral campaign website, the one that was created when he was running last (http://www.markfunkhouser.com )  Check it out.  Check my findings, please!

He says on the website, and to my knowledge has lodged substantial efforts to follow through (what I like in a politician)…that the first goal is to handle the simplest and most basic tasks in order to clean up the city and led effectively.  “Forget Paris – let’s compete more effectively with Prairie Village”.  Okay, so then I visited Prairie Village, biked up there two days ago….after work Tuesday night.  Very nice area.  Clean, safe, upper-cut-above the rest.   Similar to my abode in Overland Park.  I get where he’s coming from.  But I do venture (every weekend thus far) downtown.  Westport, 18th and Highland, the City Market.  Sometimes solo, which is not the greatest idea for a single femme, I will admit, but it’s daylight.  If you visit the Power and Light District, the Sprint Center, or anything north of Crown Center/union Station and toward Clay County……the KS/MO border area…..you will notice a pungent stench….it reeks down there. 

So, I can respect Funk for wanting to clean the place up.  There needs to be better parking, although it still is not as bad as Springfield’s parking situation or roadway/traffic thoroughfares.  But the man also stands (and I’m not basing my FYI and 411 on placated partisan politics….because I first had no idea what party Funkhouser was claiming to be home) for FINANCIAL STABILITY.  It makes sense, with his two decades of service in the Auditor’s Chair of Kansas City.  So, I trust the man, and if his wife is there, they will either both be caught smack in the middle of a nasty scandal, or they will keep each others’ hands out of the cookie jar.  It depends.  I would LOVE to take them out to lunch, even buy, just because then I’d know their character. 

………If you know how I can arrange this, please fill me in.  I’d also like to have lunch with McCain, Palin, Obama, Biden, Paul, Sam Brownback, Tom Brokaw, Kathleen Sebelius (have met Bob Dole, Claire McCaskill, John Edwards, Jim Talent, Kenny Hulshof, Sarah Steelman, local candidates here and in MO)……..

But just as I know the amount of forthrightness they have to keep about them with a spouse around, just knowing that it’s great to know where your lover is when they are gone for long hours to keep tabs, having experienced the dredges that politics can take a person through, knowing full well the endless, relentless pursuit a successful political campaign is….I think it’s great that they work together and would vouch for them to continue.  Just the same, I think there is nothing wrong with Sarah Palin being a working and successful mother with a Down’s Syndrome (trisomy 21) child….that people need to get off the watch-pole and quit ripping her for being successful and capitalisitc, enterprising and they need to forego disdaining all she works for!

All that said, I can also understand the massive corrosion of government that occurred with Clinton and Clinton were in office…..because to me, she was running him and he was running the country.  Of course, i was even younger then than I am now, so take that for what you will.   I saw lies under the table, lies shoved across the table, bills signed into lie and war established under the treatise of lie that was left for the next in line.  I saw efforts on the part of Hillary to take foreign policy on her shoulders (okay, the only person worthy of that from her party was Eleanor Roosevelt and she was a much better person on the whole)  I think that the Hill tried to occupy official posts that were only to be under the guise of President.   And sure, she’s smart, shrewd and I’ll hand it to her, more than patient and forgiving…but all the same, it was the wrong place because she could show no restraint for going ahead and charging the office.  Might not be all bad in the end, because goodness knows someone needed to be paying attention to this nation….and we are in shambles now not because of this….it’s cyclical, a culmination of Clinton-Bush-Clinton-Bush.  Eck! 

Okay, so it is definitely case-sensitive.  Can Funk’s wife keep herself at bay?  I think so.  She’s shown good restraint in my research, but that is why TRANSPARENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY are vitally important…..because I can also understand where the Council came from on overturning the veto tonight.  I can completely respect it and relate.  Perhaps the mayor of one of the nation’s largest metro areas with increased crime rates, faulty technological tracking systems, desperate need of youth intervention, missions, growth, the impending illusive November elections that regardless will render the Mexico-Canada Highway (i-35) (Pat Buchannan) open for business here in my own back yard. 

What an exciting place to be!  I have that itch to run for office, always have, but man, I might want to sit on the bench for a few years and watch this all go down in the style that it surely will. 

Stay tuned, because i’m still doing research, listening/reading/studying history/experiencing the city virutously and living the great life……but will have to collect some more data, compile deeper opinions and thoughts, trying to be careful to weigh both sides of the equation.

Today on My Mind……worth adding to blog-worthy notables

Promotion of democracy anf leftist prohibition of offshore drilling….correlation?

Why 9/11??????????????????  The eternal question

Is chess like Middle East politics?

Sarah or Barack in the Middle East…another battle of the newbies versus Maverick foreign policy and left-of-center experience (McCain-Biden) and why to suspend campaigning for the sake of American morale

the idea of CATASTROPHIC MEDIOCRITY

grappling with internal conflict—excerpts from Neitschze, Aristotle and of course, the BIBLE

Learning from the Gulf War, Cold War, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia…..things that went down, learnings

locally:  What I think about Funkhouser working with his wife

Mayor and First Lady

My analysis of the Funkhouser ordeal due Thursday……I’m in the research process

My Favorite Things

This morning I awoke to thunder at 0500 hours…..five hours of perfect peace and thunder!  Loved it!

I ran five or so miles in the pouring rain.  I love running in the rain almost as much as honeysuckle!

I had a great, largely productive day at work and knocked out my to-do list completely.  Love that!

I had no real interruptions but kept a fast and steady pace.  LOVE that!

Went to the library because I got back home too late to make it to church.  Fired up my brain and knocked off some research to answer some burning questions.  Felt bad for not making the discipleship study, but I couldn’t feature being half an hour late….thought I’d study at home and do a little of my own fasting….well, made cheeseburger soup to share with friends at work   Does it count if you clean the pots and pans to snatch a quick taste?

Rented a one-way car to get my old caprice to bring back for Saturday morning..couldn’t be happier about lunch with the Springfield running crew and marathon stories from Bob.

Downloaded a whole bunch of new music that has left me singing all night long.  My vocal chords have gotten their mileage tonight and can’t seem to stop.

Got a package in the mail from Mom.  This was the total highlight of my day.  She sent Mountain Man Candy…..I suppose living here, I’ll have to send her Russel Stover and Gherardelli!  Well, the best part was a letter.  Makes me think tomorrow evening, late, would be a great night to send her some of my artwork, some home-made decadent treats and a really long cursive-penned letter after the glorious week and start to fall thus far.  I know she worries, but if she really knew how happy my entire mind, body and soul are….she’d not think twice.  Today has definitely been a day in desperate attempt at finding some down-time, time to unwind.

It has been, yeah, the BEST day of my life.  There have been a lot of those lately, and they just keep coming one after another.  I suppose being busy is a huge aid, but I think more or less it’s all part of God’s plan, His way of letting me know I’m right where he needs me to be.

Topics for discussion:

Fasting and Prayer

Mayor Funkhouser and his wife—scandal or service???

Offshore Drilling

Expanding my blogosphere

The chill of an early fall

 

 

all coming to you the rest of this week…plus some international stuff

 

Plus:  ventures in training and my dating saga, continued

For Times Such as These

It seems inane, sometimes to even think about finding a long-term companion, but my heart has been warred with long enough.  I’m either ready to surrender and wait in the wings, or to take action and become an impactful and resonating femme.  That means, either way, that I have to begin living more in the spirit of Christ.  I think that you can really find unmistakable joy in a life as such, and that those people are not only capable, but tireless and efficacious as members of society and all they are part of.  I want to give my heart and soul away, all that I have and all that I am, because there is nothing else to do.  I’m finding great joy in living, but little satisfaction in doing it by my own accord.  This is part of spiritual warfare and plays a monstrous role in my quest for a grown-up life, perhaps plays peril on my dating regimen. 

I keep thinking that I can be benevolent and give guys a shot.  But there is something that is lacking and it is their relationship with God.  I’m not proclaiming a holier-than-thou, but am a weaker Christian that I know and need somebody stronger.  Mentally, spiritually, physically STRONGER.  I don’t need competition, I need brokenness and am finding that my views, opinions and mind are a little too potent soemtimes for those whom I choose to ‘go out’ with.  I have standards and while I’m very low-maintenance, won’t much stand for the indecisive, imcompetent, unmotivated, inefficient, ill-managed or undisciplined type.  Among other things, I think that those are just normal characteristics of a strong person, especially a strong man.  My Dad, I suppose, set the bar high and my brother is an example of good character….so I always compare my dates to them.  I’ve never truly been in love…despite an engagement that was short-lived.  This is because I have yet to find someone who is first in love with God. 

I don’t know what it is, but that seems to get me.  What it is…is that a person with greater goals and purpose often has strong desires to live right, do right, be right and probably, though I hesitate to say, vote right, because values and morals are often neck-and-neck for those type of people. 

Well, okay, I’ll cut to the chase because it’s getting late.  The right guy, he has to have a right heart.  A heart after God’s own heart, a heart vested in doing the right thing, even when it’s not fun.  A heart that desires goodness.  He’s got to be  motivated……not a couch-dweller, not moody, not emotionally a basketcase, not wavering, just steady and determined.  He’s got to have some common sense.  Meaning:  change his own oil, have good hygeine, take care of his health, be clean-cut, not be abusive.  He’s got to have common courtesy:  opening doors, paying for dates once in a while, flowers are sometimes nice (hey I can be girly), good listenership, able to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, helpful, respectful and honest/trustworthy/ameable.  He’s got to be educated, because I can’t talk to a brick wall and spend my life in books and running away from stating the obvious nature of lack of communication.  He’s got to give me space.  And I will reciprocate.  It’s great to be together, but it’s very healthy to have time apart.  He’s got to be inspiring, making me want to be a better person to achieve that same good character.  He’s got to be financially able to manage himself….I will never make enough money to be a bankroller, and love to give it away if there is excess…..but I also like to travel.  He’s got to have a good sense of adventure:  I want to go to Egypt, the Amazon, Siberia, Antarctica, New Zealand, Argentina, Russia, Hungary, Germany, and to geocache to my heart’s content…okay the last not such a big deal   He’s got to be temperate:  not jealous, not angry, not pious, not intolerable, not unjust, not impatient…at least not as a common occurrence.  He’s got to love life as it is and be content.  I don’t care for pomp and circumstance, but like to share and enjoy…all good things…..and enough already.  This sounds like a personal ad.  It isn’t but I’m only setting a standard and it needs to be something that can be maintained.  So, here’s hoping.  It’s eleven-fifteen and I’m weary.  It was the greatest day of life thus far, but has taken a toll and five o’clock comes early……..got to make a little time to pray hard, now and always…..sermon notes tomorrow….

Fall…..implies that something once stood….so what about falling?

There are a lot of ways to fall.  Fall off the wheel.  Fall on your face.  Fall in love.  Fall forward.  Fall backward.  Fall in line.  Fall for something.  Fall…..

It’s here.  Evidenced early this morning by the crabapples and persimmon on the trails and sidewalks, and blatantly fragrant in the morning  mist that graced the low earth with beads of dew.  Fiercely so because the days are shorter, nights are a little lonelier, city is quieter, Friday night lights, relaxation…finally!  Ah.  Okay, so on with a few good stories.  I’ll start with today and go in reverse order, very uncharacteristic of a saucy mind to do  

Today, my boss made me so happy, made me feel so invaluable.  She was not shy about telling me that she’s impressed by my understanding and my ability to work diligently and thoroughly on all things.   I suppose A.D.D. must not be THAT bad these days!   It gives me hope…..and a future….(Jeremiah 29:11) and makes me want to work even harder to prove my skills and worth, by the grace of God. 

Last night was so quiet, and time with a good new friend was quite enjoyable after what was a real letdown of a weekend….which made me realize a few more things I need to avoid when seeking a potential date, other things I might consider good traits.  Some thoughts left me wondering about Brian Lewis and reminded me it is time for a monthly letter to Kyrgzystan, though I know he has had to move since the last Birthday card, so I’ll just wait!  More on the date search and game in another post….

I also stopped by Borders last night for abotu 30 minutes to pick up the latest issues of Triathlete and Runners’ World magazines.  So, while there, and I do love book stores, I thumbed through “Why You’re wrong about the Right” by S. e. Cupp and “Sarah” by Kaylen Johnson.  VERY good…both!  I had been through enough pucker-faced reading about Obama and Biden….it was long overdue!  Sitting there also made me feel alone, though….as I often did when I’d go in Springfield…but not with reservation.  Oftentimes, it’s nice to be able to stretch my mind and not have to answer to anyone for it.  And I had to put down the new Thomas Friedman book, though, while I don’t agree with his political views, I snatch his rich vocabulary often.  Life is beginning to take on new flavors, probably the result of growing pains, and it is going to soon need a new chapter start, a new soundtrack and a series of “settling” events. 

I suppose the funniest moment of Sunday was what happened prior to entering Borders.  As I pulled my car into the parking lot, the phone rang and I decided to answer…..sometimes that just doesn’t happen by choice. (is that wrong?)  Well, it was Sharon from OverlandParkDating.org.  i’m so wary about that junk, but decided it wouldn’t hurt to talk to her.  they didn’t take any information, but she assured me that Kansas City was not the place to meet eligible young men…..because it is a working city.  So, I can argue with that for now, for the sake of optimism, because I’m much better at experiencing new surroundings and mingling in the right places at the right times.  I think I’m going to quit looking, regardless, because the best things come to those who wait.  And I’m in no real rush to find the “one” because I know in my heart it is not the right time.  I think that can better be explained….see post after this.  \

One thing I can say after this weekend, for certain is that i vow to be a woman of my word, a woman of integrity, a bull-headed, strong-willed, gentle, compassionate, watchful, gracious woman, and to carry a smile in my pocket, armed for any situation.  I got this Ani Difranco ticket in the mail today that made me smile.  Not for the politics, but because I can have fun, spend time with friends, meet new people and find out that there is, indeed, a world of intelligible people of opposite polarities that share that same personal desire…..of both genders, but surely, I cannot be the only one……this, surely is an exhausting and rather complicated supplication to ingest. 

The shadow proves the sunshine—like the trails people leave that reveal truth, character and compact virsimilitude.