2ndchance

Music and movie

I removed the 'flooding in virginia' post, as it seemed to be playing automatically when loading the blog. . .that can be annoying.

I'm still in a music mood.  Just downloaded the MP3 version of the soundtrack of one of my favorite movies:  Second Best.  The music is largely classical guitar, with some piano and strings thrown in for good measure.  It is prompting me to take out my guitar for the first time in years! 

The movie itself is all about broken people finding other broken people. . .and together finding wholeness.  It is a little-known movie, and is actually quite hard to find.  I'm lucky to have both the VHS version, and the book. (and now the soundtrack).  Set in the beautifully Welsh countryside, it is a story of a man seeking to adopt, and the personal and emotional hurdles he goes through.  One of my favorite characters in the film is that of a social worker. . .played by a young Alan Cumming.  He works in an orphanage with emotionally disturbed kids. Having done a fair amount of that work myself, I can relate to his character.  Directed by Chris Menges (Cinematographer for The Killing Fields)  the movie stars William Hurt, and includes a riveting performance by a young actor who plays Hurt's adoptive son. 

Now I need to go watch the movie again!

Remember

It is a rainy, cold day here in mid-October.  A perfect day to stay indoors, listen to old music, and write in the blog.  (which is obviously something I haven't done recently).

I finally got my tape deck working, and I've been listening to some old recordings from the late 80's and early 90's.  One is a sing-along among members of one of my graduate school classes.  There was this class we had to take the first semester called 'Formations', and we got pretty tight as a group.  It's fun listening to us laugh, tell jokes, and sing along with several guitars.  It reminds me of a 'good' time in my life. . .difficult, but fun.  I was working three part-time jobs and going to school full-time.  So were pretty much all my classmates.  How we ever did it is beyond me.  Yet to listen to the tape is to remember the good times.

Another recording was made at Christmas in 1992.  My then girlfriend had flown to my hometown. . .meeting my family for the first time.  I remember picking her up at the airport and driving around for about an hour (at her request), because she was so nervous.  Anyway, all of the women living in Mom's house joined our family for another one of those sing-alongs.  We had guitars, keyboard, and a hammer dulcimer.  We actually sounded pretty good.

I could go on.  There are loads of old cassettes gathering dust in my collection. . .each one with a story to tell. . .representative of old memories in my head that have also been gathering dust.  It's nice to shake loose the dust from time to time.

Still raining. . .sleepy cat in my lap. . .irish music playing on the tape deck. 

Ferrets can fly

Thanks Timbo!  I need to be reminded.  Best b-day present Evar!!

Oh yeah

It has been so long since I have posted here. . .several months. . .that I actually, finally have some things to post about.

Back in June I posted about starting a weight management program.  At the beginning of the 10 week 'boot camp', we all had VO2 submax stress tests done, and our measurements were taken.  This week, those tests were repeated; and next Monday I find out the official news on how I have progressed.

But I already know the following. . . .I have lost over 20 lbs!  As I move into the continuation portion of the program, the weight loss will continue and I will continue on my quest of getting physically fit. 

Not done yet

Every year at this time, I post a little something. . .remembering where I was and where I am now.  Tomorrow marks the anniversary of both my first and second chances.  The first was a gift from my parents, and the second was a gift from many dear friends and from God's grace.  Much love to all of you. . .you know who you are.

That I could ever get to such a bad place, six years ago, is now a little beyond my comprehension.  The series of miracles which saved my life is ever on my mind this time of year, and I will never take it for granted.

So to my parents. . .thanks for life.  To the mods and members of tehsoapbox, to my family, to the doctors and nurses, to my friends. . .thanks for a second chance.  At the moment, life is pretty good, and I'm glad that I'm not done yet and that I'm still here.  Every day, with my job, I have the chance to share the joy of life and hope with clients and co-workers.

At the risk of sounding melodramatic, I have looked into the face of death and found that life is a precious thing.  Through God's grace I can move beyond the bad place where I was, and into life again.

Where to next?  I have contemplated returning to graduate school and getting a LPC certification.  We'll see.   For now there is balance with life. . .a hard-won place to be.

Friend Smoothie

Facebook continues to amaze and amuse me.  What has really struck me lately is how it takes friends and acquaintances from wildly different parts of my life and puts them all in the same place.  One friend of mine called this 'homogenization' of people. (Thanks Mark) I guess I am used to my friends being compartmentalized. . .college, former youth, family, online friends, etc.  Some of these friends know some things about me. . .others are privy to a whole different slate of information.  (For example, many people know what the name of this blog signifies.  Many do not.)

Just the other day, a several friends posted their status messages, as usual.  The first one was one of my more conservative friends who was ranting about President Obama.  Directly after that, was a status from one of my gay friends talking about a Pride March he was in.  Right after that was a family member talking about moving from one state to another.  And after that was a Christian friend of mine, using her status to broadcast her faith.

You get the idea.  I had to chuckle.  I started to think, which one of my friends would unfriend me if they could see all my other friends.  Would my pro-choice friends disown me because I also have pro-life friends?  Would my atheist friends sneer at my christian friends?  Would my straight friends be shocked that I have gay friends?  What kind of conversations would ensue if everyone was gathered in one room?

It only makes sense.  I usually describe myself as a mutt when meeting new people.  I have threads of many different philosophies, beliefs and choices flowing through me.  It helps me to relate to individuals and groups of many different backgrounds.  I was just always the kid who had friends of all different kinds, shapes, and colors.  I always try to respect other people for their beliefs; while still holding intact my own beliefs.  So my FaceBook friends are a reflection of all of this.

I would like to bring everyone together in one room.  Just to see.  How many people would get into heated conversations.  How many people would make new friends.  How many people would storm out of the room.

Wouldn't it be fun to watch.

Holistic health

I began a new fitness/weight loss program this week.  With all the hospitalizations, illness, and basic sedentary lifestyle I've had over the past four or five years, I have lost out on physical wellness.  Not to mention the meds that cause one to crave carbs and sweets.  So I have saved money for over a year and have finally taken the plunge to work on my physical well-being.  After working so hard on mine and others' mental health, I figured it was time to address holistic health.

This program is medically supervised, and consists of a 10-week 'boot camp' of workouts and of lectures on nutrition; followed by at least 8 more months of 'continuation' where we put into practice all that we have learned.  I have been inspired by one of my supervisors who lost over 100 lb's in a year's time with this program.  It is well known in my metro area, and my primary care physician is very happy that I have joined.

The first lecture was this past Wednesday night, and I was surprised at how interesting/fun it was and also at how many people were there.  Then I had my first supervised workout last night.  The trainers were cracking the whip.  Several people had joined together. . .couples and friends, etc.  So they were partnering up with weight training, etc.  I didn't know anyone there except for a few of the trainers.  It felt kind of like being the last kid to be chosen in gym class to not have a partner.  But the trainers helped and I made it through.  It seems likely that I will meet some other people as we move along.

I went back to work out today, although I don't have to again until tomorrow morning.  Trying to discipline myself with focused exercise.

Of course the other half of this is diet.  I am now eating 5 small meals a day. . .healthier meals. . .and journaling everything that I eat.  Snacking is not allowed.

More later as things progress.  Now it's time for a shower, heh.

RIP David Carradine.

CNN is reporting that actor David Carradine has died in Bangkok, Thailand, while filming a movie.  There is some speculation about this being a suicide, as he was found hanging by a rope in his hotel room closet.

However it happened, Kung Fu was one of my favorite tv shows when I was growing up. . .and he was great in the role of Caine.  I hope that he finds peace. 

:(

Frogs for Rainforest Conservation

To learn more about this issue, look here.

Surprise!

Watch this.