New York, I Love You

Shoulders sun burnt. Finished some morning Maple and Brown Sugar. Been having some eggs and bacon of late. Not a real cereal guy and the work to make pancakes and waffles is really more than I am up for. So boiled water,a dry package Maple and Brown Sugar, and more swimming under the summer sun. 

Haven’t written for some time. Not that there hasn’t been adventure. Not that there hasn’t been anything to say or discuss. Just now is time for a quiet moment. Listening to the desert winds blow outside and its time. 

Watching a muted movie. Movie is called “New York, I Love You.” It’s a great movie. Several vignettes of New York residents in love. There is an old couple taking a walk on the pier. Another a one night stand. An obsessed artist falls for Chinese medicine herbalist. A husband and wife role playing as if strangers. So on and so forth. It’s themes are about Love. 

Couple days ago. Saw this FB profile of a friend of a friend. It was a new picture. It was her and I assume it was her boyfriend. Surprised me a little. It marked a time of change. A time of growth of development. A landmark in one’s life. A graduation. When one life ends. Another begins. Without these moments of celebration, we would be amiss of so many of life’s special and precious instances. Too often they become common and we forget to cherish.

A picture here. A journal entry there. These deposits of our memories that makeup who we are and who we become. Shared moments with family, friends, enemies, acquaintances, and single-serving friends. We dismiss these cherished seconds and we think we have so many more.  I hope we do.

Still, as I watch, the muted movie. I am reminded of the necessity of Love. The necessity of Storytelling. The necessity of Sharing and Communicating. So much is said with a picture. A glance, a facial expression, a background. Clothes they wear. How the hair is cut. Shaved, coiffed, styled. Is there action? Is there stillness? Fast, slow, measured. In the medium of film, pictures say much. Add sound. The rise and fall of one’s voice. Is it confident, unsure? What is the rhythm the pacing? Bring music to the mix and each word said and unsaid touches one on an emotional level.

Haven’t written much late because I needed to re-fuel my wellspring. It hasn’t runneth over.

I enjoy this movie so. But I am not experiencing it fully. Sound is off and I am missing a richness. Its like knowing Love and not being in Love with someone. Watching the many vignettes of New Yorkers in love, I am reminded my times falling in love and experiencing love. From a romantic tryst to high school firsts. From awkwardness of infatuation to bold, pretend bravado to impressing a potential. This multitude of precious moments that fills our lives. I’ve seen it many times and I should save it to my library.  

Its like a new profile picture on FB with a new beau. Moments in time, in between. A captured moment for all the world to see to share. A time which holds true, then must morph through. We grow, we change, we develop. We share these moments. We share our insights, our pleasure. We share what troubles us and announce to the world a birth and new discovery. Its in these moments of what is and what could be. . .and what could be again.

So here I end. . .to begin again. . .and more importantly, to finish New York, I Love You. With sound.

Cousin Russell

Bucket List

One of my bucket list is to do is visit the Statue of Liberty. Another is to watch the Country Music Award (CMA) Missed watching the CMA Award last night. After the Kanye-Swift excitement, I've grown to be a Taylor Swift fan. Since then I've listened to Country more often than naught. I can say that I love Darius Rucker, Jewel, and Lady Antebellum. Next year, then.

Country Music Awards

Watching Laurence of Arabia again. Seen it before. It’s a heroic true-life story of TE Lawrence, in the during his odyssey in the Middle East. It’s one of my bucket lists, Watch All Academy Award Best Pictures. If you aren’t on www.sharebuckets.com. Consider it. Over 200, lists to do. It’s funny the life we lead and where it takes us. Amazed at the life brought us. This movie seemed to reflect this belief. Not a reader of Power of Intention, but I believe when you Trust in the universe, she will take care of you.

I Love Him

It’s Veterans Day. And I hope the Universe will take care of one I love. Russell is his name. My cousin on my mother’s side. He is a good guy. With a great heart. Went to his wedding a few months back. Married a nice lady, too. He has good friends and people that love him. What more does a person need? Nothing more from what I learned. My brother Kevin is the same. Good man with a great heart.

Middle East Odyssey

On this windy day like this, can’t help think back to all the good people in my life. Can’t help think of the ones not here too like my Cousin Russell. He is in the Army now, stationed in the Middle East having an exciting odyssey, I hope somewhere, like TE Lawrence, the Laurence of Arabia. Been thinking about him on this Veteran’s Day. He gets busy and can’t write a postcard at times. (Hint, Hint) I still love him. Its his Day. Our National Holiday. Its Veteran’s day. A day when in the US, libraries, banks, and government offices are closed in remembrance to those living serving in the military. For many, it is a time where we enjoy the time with family and friends.

 

"". . . Is Never Free"

A nice lady commented on one of my latest posts, “Freedom is never free”. Honestly thought I wrote something unpatriotic. Thought there was a disagreement. I’m okay with a difference of opinion. However, it was nothing at all. Still, Couldn’t agree more with she wrote. People have fought and died fighting for this luxury we have today. We honor them in Memorial Day. Many still fight and sacrifice today.  Today is their day.

Heads Lowered

What luxury one may asks? The right to disagree, the right to have discord. The right to express how one feels. Must admit that there is a lot of media garbage out there. Many talking heads say nothing out there. Beauty is we have a right. A right to not listen. A right to change the channel. Even more so, a right and obligation to turn it off. We vote economically to let some shows go in the way of the Dodo. I am sure many would not like my scribbling. Still, we are given luxuries to watch the Food Channel, UFC, History Channel, Wizards of Waverly Place, Burn Notice. Dances with the Stars, Eeeh, not my cup of tea. But family likes it and that is good enough for me. We are allotted many luxuries--many opportunities--in the US, despite economic woes. We should take time to honor those for these gifts.

Best Picture Is. . .

During my stint of watching all the Best Pictures, there has been a theme watching these Oscar winners. Several movies are about War. Actually at least a third, maybe half of them, had been about war. All Quiet on the Western Front, Deer Hunter, Best Years of Our Lives, Apocalypse Now, Forest Gump, Hurt Locker, Sound of Music, Gladiator, Mrs. Miniver, Platoon, Patton, Schindler’s List, Gone With the Wind, and many, many more.

Life is Art. Art is Life

Attitudes about fighting have been mixed through the times about wars and the people that fight them. Some movies, i.e., All Quiet on the Western Front commented on the national pride and fervor were sold a bill of goods about the glories and triumphs of war. In some movies, the lives of the warriors were documented post battle. It examined the toll it took on them and their families, e.g., Best Years of Our Lives, Mrs. Miniver, and Deer Hunter. Still other movies, examined some of the psyche of other warriors Hurt Locker and Apocalypse now.

C'est La Vie. C'est La Guerre

All generations has some type of rites of passage. Unfortunately, war is too often this tester of person’s soul.  Whether or not you agree with the military policy of government, it is must be remembered that the enforcement of these policies are administered by the ones we love. People have disagreements on whether a country should fight on this side or that. People have disagreements on whether fighting should be done at all. People just have disagreements. C’est la Vie. C’est la Guerre.

When you think of Veteran’s Day today, really think of Veterans Day. Don’t give it a cursory thought as a Day Off Holiday. Think about visiting a National Museum. Think about picking about a movie like the one’s above. Think about writing that letter or postcard to that loved one. Hug your Mom, Dad, Uncle, Aunt, Cousin, Husband, Wife, Loved One that serve. Go to a Veterans Day celebration. Really take that time to remember for those that should be Remembered.

Thank You

Cousin Russell, Be safe and Stay Safe. Cousin Bobby and Randy than you for serving. Dad, Tatay, Uncle Osorio, Uncle Barr, Thank You. Mike Crescitelli, Scott Bucher, Marc Jones, and all those that have I haven’t  mentioned in and out of Active Duty. Thank you for paying the Price of Freedom.

Stephanie, you are right. Freedom is Never Free. So today Pay Your Respects. Honor our Veterans by doing something more.  What that is, you’ll need to decide.  They have paid—AND Are Paying—In blood and sweat for this Freedom we enjoy today.

Balls of sand

Watching the Hustler. A classic Black and White with Paul Newman. Never seen it before. Don’t really know what to expect. Always liked pool. This supposedly the classic pool movie. One of the top 100’s AFI I think. A time in my life this all I wanted to do. Shoot pool. Travel around and hustle games. Was never good like that, but I could shoot some. Not the Efron Reyes, Duchess of Doom type. But good enough to shot in a league. Wasn’t outstandingly great, but wasn’t terrible. I had game. Beat most of my friends and anyone I would play.

I would get in a rhythm. Something about the focus. Where to place the ball after the strike. The command of one’s personal stress level.  Striking, the place where you are in control and you letting go at the same time. The mental focus. The feel of the felt of the table. Powder in your hand. Chalking the tip. Rounding the edges. Feeling for imperfections in the pockets and rails. Hearing the music play in the background. The servers strolling around. Having people watch you and not caring. Going to that special table reserved for the regulars, the hard cores. The ones with no life. I was one of these. Knowing you are watched. People sizing you and you not caring. It is the place where no one is around, just you and the table. Where one masters not only the tables on the ball, but the personal demons. The brightly lit table. The people bringing their cue. Black leather cases. Some wannabes carrying their Budweiser cue they picked up at Wal-Mart or Big 5. 

My cue, her name was Nikita. She was a gift from Charles. He was a movie buff. Nikita was electric blue. Nice one, too. It wasn’t a Balabushka, but it was one that you see priced at pool halls for 700 or 800 bucks. Nikita was named after the movie and tv show. Just the idea of switching into game mode when the time came. Money on the table and taking what is yours. Shooting the cycle. Orange crush. 9 ball. Straight pool. Table runs. Sharking.  

My pool stick was lost when my Acura was stolen. Always thought I would get her back. Never did. Let that go. Let pool go to. It was too addicting. Could spend hours just shooting—And I did. Mastering this skills meant mastering my mind. Practice banks. Straight. Draws. Follow through. Something about shooting pool just seem to fit for me. Got a sense of pride. Cultural pride at that. Watching the legends like Efron Reyes, “Maestro”.  It my duty for me to be good at this because they were good at it. Don’t know what this affinity I had came from. Just liked winning. Sure against the other players, but it just mastering my own stress levels. Mastering my mind and myself. It was mental chess. Calculating the odds. Playing it safe.  Knowing areas where I felt comfortable. Placing my opponents in areas he hated. Pulling out shots that most would not even consider. Watching a person body language as defeat would wash over them. Some were quick shooters. Others were measured. Others just had no technique. No clue. It was sizing one up in moments and just knowing that it was your to lose. Nothing the other person would do would not affect me.

Played left handed so as to build the others confidence. My aim would be unsteady, my shooting arm would be flapping like a hummingbird. Like when shooting basketball with my off hand before a pick up game started. Then switching when the time called. Strong side was my right, until it became second nature shooting left.

Late night, pitcher of beer. Hanging with buddies at Sharkys and the place I no longer remember. Remember driving to Pasadena to shoot at the bar with red felt tables. Shooting pool with Syed, Little Brother for Sig Ep. Then to Santa Monica Beach where dancing happened upstairs. Going to Hollywood Billiards watching the Shaq and Kobe comeback.  Going to College Billiards in Garden Grove after a closeout. Playing at Yankee Doodles and the Hilton with coworkers and trainees. Something about pool that brought great times and even better memories.

No longer shoot anymore. Don’t even want to pick up a stick. Somehow picking it up would tarnish the wonderful memories I would have being a striker.  In another life maybe, I will shoot again. Now, I am okay living with the many wonderful memories.Like watching an old black and white, that one visits once in awhile.

Guess, the reason people like to talk about the good all times is because they are the hero in their own mental movie. Suffering than success. A Hero's Journey for your own mental movie. 

I'm sure we all have wonderful places where we all like to visit. Thing is. . .you can't stay here too long. You will miss out the up and coming and bigger and better movie of your life. It is the ride that never ends. Round and round she goes, players change and stay the same. Circling round and round in an endless loop. Things is to keep your eyes and ears open with your heart to new and better experience.

L'Event de Perseids

Drought Almost Over

Its been some time since. . .well, been feeling this drought for too long. I can pretend that it didn’t effect me, but that is what it would be,  Pretending. Perhaps, it’s fitting? After the feeling of emptiness, after this feeling of feeling less than, perhaps it is fitting that it will shower soon. Tonight, I read to be ready for a shower. 

Clash of Titans

Perseus was mythic character of Greek mythology. Born of questionable circumstances, raised by his adopted family.His life an adventure throughout. His journeys are one of legend. I know of two movies made of his exploits. Marrying Andromeda. Beheading the Gorgon, Medusa. Riding the winged horse, Pegasus. Passing the River Styx. Battling Neptune’s spawn, the Kraken. Standing up to the Gods of Olympia. Perseus in history inspired to be greater. To go against the wind and battle for better times, for Love.

Renewal

Symbolism of rain, of a shower. It supposed to be droplets of life. Of renewal. Of spiritual growth. In movies, rain means life. Think of it as a cleansing. A time for change. City of Angel, Forrest Gump, Leap of Faith. Rain played a significant part in all these movies. When Seth’s love, dies it rained. When the Forrest Gump was in Vietnam, going through all the types of rain. The ones that came up from the ground. The ones that went sideways. The ones that came in giant droplets. Rain was the last image one sees  in Steve Martin departure of his ways as he screams, "Rain, Rain, Rain."

Rain is coming tonight. From Perseus, too.

Streaks

Actually, it is a meteor shower. It’s where the dust from the Tuttle-Swift passes by earth’s orbit. Supposedly, there will be 45 to 100 meteorites streaking  through our night. It is said Nature’s Fourth of July. I just made that up. After tonight I will see if this is true. Maybe it will be a cleansing of the soul I need.

I Just Made that Up

Plans are to head to the Devil’s Punchbowl with my camera and lounge chair. No city lights. Just dark night and heavens above. Bring some snacks and hope to dust particles dance in green and red streaks on the atmosphere. Fourth of July, huh? Kaprece was born on the Fourth of July. That was big life changing moment.  Tonight is L’Event de Perseids. (I just made that up). We journey through the Swift-Tuttle dust stream.

It's That Guy

Called the Devil’s Punch Bowl campgrounds yesterday to get the logistics and the ranger said, some stay until to 1 to 2 am. Not sure, if I will be out that late, but we’ll see. It has been some time since I’ve been to the Bowl. Not sure what to expect, but a late night adventure it shall be. Per Google, modern day’s encyclopedia, states that the Perseid showers is called because the dust originates from the constellation Perseus. Remember the movie Clash of the Titans, it’s that guy.

What Does That Mean?

Dream dictionary interpret meteors as “some truth that has been kept hidden.” Or it may also means, some truth that has yet to be realized.” The earth in dreams tends to link to the facts and reality about your life. Meteors and asteroids are made out of earth so they too maybe have some link to reality. Meteors and asteroids may symbolize some truth which was not realized at first. Meteors supposedly links to some radical shift that is about to change your life. Maybe some new job or move is about to happen and the dream is reminding you of this change

 

Its Been A Long Time
Tonight I sit under the dark starry sky. Lounging looking at the celestial dance tonight. Maybe there will be a renewal, a spiritual cleaning. Tonight I will welcome the shower.  Tonight, I hope this rain will strengthen me spiritually to battle my personal Gorgons and Krakens. Maybe tonight I will find my Andromeda, ride my Pegasi? Tonight, maybe it will indicate some radical shift in my life. Maybe a truth will be uncovered. Whatever it is, this drought has been long and hopefully this rain will replenish me.

I Can't Do This, Sam--Frodo

Plans Change

Sitting in Customer Lounge at Robertson this morning. Needed to have Civic checked again. It was the second time in 2 days that I needed to get a jump. Five times I had to get a jump start since I brought it here three weeks back to get my battery checked. They said it was good. My car thinks otherwise. Lucky for me, I have in my flash drive a few flics: Ninja Assassin, Up In the Air, and To Paris With Love. Relatively, new movies. Took my meds with no food and I’m feeling it now. Had different things planned for today: haircut, hospital, Morning Mass, working out, and bill-paying. Not something extremely difficult, but necessary.

Star-Gazing At the Kodak

Had different plans for the night before and it didn’t pan out as I would like. Hoping to see the Oscars, no, I mean experience the Academy Awards. Planned on going to the Kodak Center on Highland and something and be one of the wanna-be paparazzi and take some photos. Never did it before, but thought it would be cool to do. Only thing close to ceremony with luminaries was my time with Shelly when we went to the Vegas Star Trek Hilton opening. Caught some pics with Jerry Ryan, Levar Burton, Jonathon Frakes, and few other actors in the various series.

It’s funny how we go star-gazing. These people who are like you and me, we just gawk with adoration. Their skills--their talents--is to mask and pretend. Their gift is to be characters in a story. Sure, this is make-believe, but stories are important. We like hero archetypes. We like to root against villains. The story is game of the struggle. The stories are of tragedy, loss, comedy, and love. The quest of the hero is to battle. To win to lose. To be reborn and be made better. To be something more. What I find is that people, like me, need to be inspired by these heroes, real and imagined.

Story of My Life

More and more, I am finding that we have this in all of us. We can be the hero to our own story. We need to be the hero in our story.

If you were watching a movie of your life, would it be an interesting story? Would you change the channel of your own life? Would it be a struggle? Would it be a tragedy? A comedy? Who would be your love interest? Who would be the primary characters in the movie that is you? Really, you are the producer of your own movie, your own film. You edit the story of your life.You decide what memories to keep and what to leave on the cutting floor.

And the Winner Is. . .

Working out last night watching part of the Oscars, I saw the parts of the awarding of the male lead presentation. Jeff Bridges, Morgan Freeman, George Clooney, Jeremy Renner (Hurt Locker) were the nominees. It was a nice presentation. Couldn’t hear the words being said (No radio on Ipod). However, I could see the faces and pictures of the nominees. It was nice collage of the body of works of these performers. Susan Sarandon’s other, Tim Robbins spoke in behalf of Morgan Freeman. In the background was Shawshank Redemption. George Clooney had Vera Farmiga. Jeremy Renner had Collin Ferrel. Michelle Pfieffer spoke of Jeff Bridges (They worked on the Fabulous Baker Boys) I liked how these people spoke in behalf of the Oscar nominees. It reminded me of a lawyer's summation of a good trial movie.

Defend Your Life

Not in a negative way, it reminded me of eulogy. People that worked with these great actors spoke in their behalf. Much like the telling heartfelt stories of the life occasions shared at a funeral. A lady I know said she liked the idea of angels advocating your life. Before going to next level, if you believe in Heaven, one would have to defend one’s life. A movie would show snippets of one’s life advocating moving up or re-doing life. All the good. All the Bad. Everything’s everything and its effect. One would be held accountable for the actions and events that would be your life. 

Imagine your life, if it ended today and you had to be judged, how would it turn out? Would you be proud of the life you have lived? Would you proud what you produced? Are you proud of everything you have done?

I’ve had good moments. I’ve had bad. Overall, I'm not happy with everything. Not so far. I have events in my life that I would like to re-do. I can’t do that though. Can only admit mistakes, move on, and do better next time. One of my favorite quotes comes from author, martial artist, and Icon. Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.--Bruce Lee I am working on the admitting part. Courage: its growing.

In the story that is your life, what are you producing? What are you holding on to? What are you fighting for? Are you worth watching?

I think, Yes.

Best Producer Award Goes To. . .

Remember, in the movie of your life, danger and despair are part of a good story, a good story that matters. You may try to re-shoot parts, but the other actors may not be there to re-shoot. As producer in the editing room of your mind, you can cut out things not worth keeping. In the end, you make your own story. During the acceptance speech, its customary to give thanks. In the end, you need to give credit to actors and actress. You need to give credit to the costume producers, the set producers, the prop specialists, the lighting, the gaffers, the assistants, the assistant’s assistants, the everything. Not all are major characters, but their presence had an impact in your movie. Well, enough with that.

Dark times passes. Courage takes note the many chances of turning back, but it keeps on.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Frodo: I can't do this, Sam.

Sam: I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.

Frodo: What are we holding onto, Sam?

Sam: That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for.

"Its not that I don't know, its just I haven't learned yet"--Jed, Bartlet, West Wing

What I hope I will be in 30 minutes


Veins of Gold. Ray of Gold. "I am still learning--Michaelangelo."

These are the little snippets I have gotten from this new book I am beginning to read. Forty more pages and I should be caught up.

By coincidence, I met up with a reading group all femmes with artistic aspirations. Having lunch at Panera's and I couldn't help but listen to these women having "Discourse." Initially, I thought it was healing group. Kind of afraid to inquire because I got this feeling there was some anger issues. Male-bashing trauma. Reminded me a bit of Fight Club. No, not the UFC stuff. It was the weekly meetings, Ed Norton's character was attending to battle is insomnia. Testicular Cancer, Sickle-Cell Anemia, etc.

I felt like a Tourist. I had no intention of involving myself. I had no desire too, either. I was simply drawn at the battle of two personalities. I've seen it before, In group development. In all group development four stages must happen: Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing. This was undoubtedly the storming/ forming stage. As an outside viewer, a tourist, I could not help but listen. I tried not to, I swear. Yet, I was drawn.

The group's discourse reminded me of the movies when people kiss. I always avert my eyes during the scenes of intimacy. A passionate, innocent kiss--I always avert my eyes. Its so intrusive. Its so intimate. Its so personal. Guess, during my Peer Counseling days, privacy was and still is of utmost importance. If I went, I would assume it would be like a confession. Baring one's soul to the world. I mean, being adept in sales, it has been my natural instinct to be able to cut through the Bull. Get Cliff Notes in snippets. Watching someones shoes, their gait, their outfit. Listening to the inflection. Watching the congruences, their tells, when they spoke. I was able to size up a situation and circumstance in an instant.

All of us do it all the time. Guess, I had good teachers to be listening with my eyes more often.

One of the ladies passed by on her way to the washroom, I asked innocently what the group was. I was right. It was a reading book group with a theme of self-help artist within-stuff. Well, I was invited to join and I accepted. One lady was a published author and I thought. Why not? If I have any aspirations of writing a book, well, okay. Jump.

One said I was a catalyst. Had to look that up to make sure that was a good thing. Its just I like to get things done. I don't want to be the alpha in this group. I am just going to flow. We naturally step into roles we feel most comfortable in. Mine has been toward leadership. Lately, I have been consciously not falling into this role. Don't get me wrong, but I think I am enjoying playing the devil's advocate. The road less traveled. I enjoy being the other voice. Yet, I will take a backseat approach and enjoy the ride

When the time calls, I'll be whatever needs to be done to reach where this journey needs us to go. For a long time, my question has been "If you were a fly on the wall, what wall would that be?" For me, it was answered in the movie Thirteen Days. During time of crisis, I felt that I would play a role. What role? Honestly, don't know. Thought I would be the decision maker. Thought I would the special assistant. Thought I would be the voice to call for war. Played this scenario so many times, . . .It was like playing chess. E4, E5, Kn F3. . .

Maybe these events will be a warm-up for something more. Posse is forming. Foreshadowing. Well, time is short. Must go on my mini-escape.

"Its not that I don't know, its just I haven't learned yet"--West Wing

Seth, Spawn, Songs, Starfish, and SOTU

State of the Union Speech: Does It Really Matter?
State of the Union (SOTU). Haven't read any of the politicos comments on the speech. Don't know if I will. It tends to be a lot of cock and bull. One side says this and the other side says that. Defend and Attack. It gets old. To me, it is just the sales rebuttals that I have heard a millions times over, simply an exercise in bashing and futility. Whenever talking heads appear on CNN or CSPAN, blah blah blah-ing, I just hit mute, click the guide button on Dish Network control, and change the channel.

Heard most of Obama's speech while on the Life fitness bike. Liked what heard. My first time speaking in front of people, almost fainted. Definitely blacked out for a second. I was told that I lost my balance and it looked like I was going to take header. So whenever a good speech being delivered by a seasoned orator, I just marvel. Now, I'm good. Speaking in front of a Super Bowl stadium full of people, I got it covered.

The President's State of the Union, honestly, don't know if it will make a difference. Hope it does. When a State of the Union speech comes up, I think of the West Wing TV series. My favorites West Wing shows were the State of the Union episodes. One of my favorite SOTU show is "Season 6, Episode 12: 365 Days" It is the last year of the President second term, his last year. Leo, the ex-Chief of Staff gathers all of Bartlett, SOTU speeches. He reviews them and takes to task the entire staff. He tells them re-focus. He reminds them the great words, the moving State of the Union speeches, the reasons the why they are there is getting lost. Various political realities have stifled their agenda. They have been reacting to crises, instead of shaping events. Leo emphasizes this is the team's last hurrah and its time to let out all stops.

Can't help, but think the grandiose plan each and everyone of us makes. Resolutions I call them. They are promises to ourselves to be better. How many of your resolutions are not being followed through? What are the gamut of reasons? Compromise here,compromise there. Excuses here, "I will do it tomorrow" there. No need to beat yourself. This is just a reminder to stop reacting and think big picture. In the end, does it really matter?

Throwing Starfishes Can't say yes, but I also can't say no, either. I think of the Starfish story, by Loren Eiseley. http://muttcats.com/starfish.htm Moral of story is ". . .Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference! At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

Started writing this blog because I needed to explore and examine Inspiration. My hope for this blog is to examine, learn, and incorporate Heroism in our daily lives. I suspect there are others that have same yearning. Some time ago, I read an article on modern mythology and comic-dom. This was a time when collecting comics was the cool thing to do. Lines for comic signing were a block long,i.e., Todd McFarlane and Spawn. The article made sense.

People need to be continually inspired. Think Bible, Aesop's Fable, Koran, any management book. Read any comic book. People in the absence of meaning need a shot of feel good,a dose of purpose. Some turn to religion. Some to romance novels. Others, spy books. Music, too. Sporting events. Yet others--many others--catch the latest flic.

Spanish guitar is playing overhead. Sitting in the middle of Barnes and Noble at 10:17 pm, I am surrounded and bombard with inspiration. I now understand the appeal of books stores. Often there no places to sit, its so crowded. They are a place to be entertained, a place to enjoy, a place to find inspiration.

I Can Hear You What You Are Thinking
Watching a lady in a gray hoodie right. She's smiling as she reads her story. I wonder what she is saying to herself to make her smile like so. If I were Seth, the fallen angel, who fell for love, in the "City of Angels" my favorite ability would be able to hear the internal dialogue of every day people. Right now, listen to your own internal dialogue. What is it saying?

Today caught myself trying to be my own inspiration. Sat on Life Fitness cycle earlier. Head down. Eyes closed. Zoning on my breathing. Listening to my legs pump those pedals, I kept repeating "Stronger Heart. Stronger Heart. Stronger Heart" When I shoot pool, after each shot, I shout in my head, "Damn, I am good." Miss or make, I still ring out, "Damn, I am good." I've developed a shooter's mentality. What do you say? Whats your internal dialogue? Why shouldn't you be your own cheerleader?

Movies and Music Lift Spirits
When feeling lazy, when feeling mentally and physically drained, I go get a dose of "feel good." Saw Lebron James basketball yesterday afternoon, "More Than A Game." Afterwords, I finished 10 miles of cardio. Even now, I get still get pumped whenever the Rocky theme song plays. Do you have a movie that fires you up? Think Rudy, Invincible, Miracle, When We We're Kings, Invictus, Without Limits, PreFontaine, Remember the Titans, Cool Runnings, Tallageda Nights. (just kidding on last one)

How about a song? Richard Wagner's Flight of the Valkyrie does it for me. Chariots of Fire soundtrack. Some Naughty by Nature, Feel Me Flow or Hip Hop Hooray. Eminem, Ice Cube, Black Eyed Pea. Can't forget the original Rocky's theme song. If you have more, please put it on comment.

My point is this, many need that "feel good", always have. My proof are the millions of movie-goers, novel readers, music lovers, Church goers, sport fans. They attend to events to seek entertainment, seek inspiration, seek that "feel good." When we listen to the State of the Union speech, we get disappointed when there is no stirring in the soul. When we attend a football game, a boxing match, or basketball game, if our heart does not race, than we feel a bit let down. This blogs will explore the ways people get inspired. It will create awareness how the heroism manifests itself. Lastly, it will perpetuate that "feel good" that many seek.

Comment on what inspires you. I would like to use it for a future blog post.

West Wing Episode Synopsis can be found on the following http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0200276/episodes

State of the Union episodes listed below:
Season 2, Episode 13: Bartlet's Third State of the Union
Original Air Date—7 February 2001
While a live TV show is broadcast from the West Wing following the State of the Union, the staff must covertly deal with a hostage situation in Columbia. CJ learns that a special guest at the state of the union has a black mark on his record that could taint the administration. Ainsley Hayes is afraid to meet the President in person.


Season 3, Episode 12: 100,000 Airplanes
Original Air Date—16 January 2002
On the night of the State of the Union, Sam has to explain the process of writing the speech and grading reaction to it to a magazine reporter (Traylor Howard) throughout the evening; C.J. arranged the coverage unaware that the reporter, Lisa Sherbourn, is Sam's ex-fiancée; flashing back to the speechwriting process, we see the president dining with several of Abbey's medical colleagues, and they ponder the future of cancer research, motivating Bartlet to ask that a section be added to the SOTU in which he calls for U.S. scientists to find a cancer cure by 2010; the staff, convinced that the Congressional censure is weighing heavily on the president, tries to talk him out of this bold but risky proposal.

Season 5, Episode 11: The Benign Prerogative
Original Air Date—14 January 2004
In inexplicably finishing the speech early Toby is left with nothing to do. However, the State of the Union speech needs testing, so Toby flies out to meet Joey Lucas to perform mall tests.

Season 6, Episode 12: 365 Days
Original Air Date—19 January 2005
Leo returns to the White House to help bolster the administration, which is suffering from the loss of Josh, Donna, Will, and the Vice President to the next election campaign. Leo's first day back follows President Bartlet's last State of the Union address, and unlike in previous years there appears to be little momentum on bold, large-scale initiatives. Amidst numerous distractions that dilute the focus of the staff (kidnappings in Colombia, the First Lady's appearance at a NASCAR race, and petulant Congressmen), he challenges the administration on their agenda for their remaining year in office.