#411 The Future's Open Wide

Lately I’ve been in a tiny funk.  I have no reason to be.  I think it’s a combination of no sunlight the past couple of weeks and my period (sorry!).  My alarm goes off in the morning and it seems like it’s still night time.  I want to lay there under the warm covers and listen to Bob and Tom all morning.  But I make myself get up and go to the gym, thinking some physical activity will get me going.  It does.  And the rest of the day I’m ok and somewhat motivated to get things done (I’m also off work this week). 

The other day while driving home from the gym I shot up a prayer to God to help me get out of the funk and help me to improve my outlook.  A short time later one of my favorite songs came on the radio – "I Melt With You" by Modern English.  This song always makes me smile.  I first heard the song when I saw the movie Valley Girl.  It’s one of my favorite movies and Nicholas Cage’s character resembles a boy I had a crush on in college.  Nowadays, I just love the sound of the song and it takes me back to my fun college days. 

I have sung this song hundreds of times but I don’t recall ever focusing in on this line – The future’s open wide.  Pretty timely seeing as tomorrow is New Year’s Day.  Now, I’m not one for making New Year’s resolutions – I believe you shouldn’t wait for a certain time of year to make a change.  Make it now.  Now just happens to be the New Year.  

After singing that line I really thought about it.  Yes, I’m 47 and still single, watching seemingly everyone around me get married and/or have kids.  But each day (overcast or not) brings the promise of something new.  Anything can happen. 

After hearing the song I stopped at one of my favorite places (the library) and when I came out and started my car the next lyric I heard was “Yesterday’s gone” from one of Fleetwood Mac’s songs.  Again, very timely. 

The future’s open wide.  Yesterday’s gone.  The sun will come out tomorrow (or the next day).  I will get over my funk.  If you happen to be feeling a little funky yourself, I pray that you look to the future and see the possibilities.  And have a Happy New Year!  

#410 Edam Up

Around the holidays certain “higher-ups” around the office receive gifts.  One year a guy received a live wreath and didn’t want it, so I took it home.  It smelled lovely.  I have seen people receive tins of popcorn, cookies and even a Virginia ham.  I have received a box of oranges and grapefruits for the past 10 years or so in December.  The person who kept me on the mailing list (I haven’t worked with that championship in five or six years now) passed away earlier this year.  He was so thoughtful to keep sending them to me and I will greatly miss him and the fruit. 

The latest gift to hit the office was a 3 lb. cannonball of Edam cheese from Mississippi State University.  A co-worker sent me a message to come and get some cheese this past Monday.  For three days days Kerstin and I have ventured to the other side of the building to have an afternoon snack of either cheese and crackers or cheese and bread. 

Today (Thursday) I sent my usual message to the keeper of the cheese asking if she had taken it out of the refrigerator.  I recently learned that cheese is best when it’s been out of the refrigerator for an hour or so.  The flavors are better.  I was aghast when my friend replied “It’s gone”.  What?  What do you mean, gone?  There was half a ball of cheese left yesterday!  Who ate all the cheese?  Who moved my cheese?  She forgot to put the cheese away when she left work last night and then called security to tell him to throw it away.  Pardon me?  Throw it away?!  Who does that?  Cheese is a hearty food and will definitely not go bad overnight.  You may have to cut some hardened cheese off the top, but it would still be good.  I was distraught. 

When I delivered the bad news to Kerstin she felt the same way.  My hope is that the security guy looked at half ball of beautiful Edam cheese and took it home with him and it’s not rotting in the back of a Ray’s trash truck. 

I was looking forward to several more days of our “cheese runs.”  (Which is a very ironic thing to call it, since cheese does the opposite of giving you the runs.)  Now I am back to peanut butter on bread for my afternoon snack.  So long, Edam.  It was nice to know you.  Parting is such sweet sorrow.  

#409 Comedic/Musical Geniuses

In one weekend I saw two (well, possibly three) geniuses.  The first was Ronnie Milsap.  I first saw him in 2007 as the second opener for George Strait (the first opener?  Taylor Swift.).  My friend Kelly went with me and she would always say “He’s a musical genius” when talking about Ronnie. 

I heard he was on his farewell tour and just had to see him one more time.  He didn’t disappoint.  There is not enough time for him to sing all of his hits, so he did a lot of medleys, but was a really good show.  He told a story about attending a school for the blind as a child.  He received music lessons for 12 years at that school and he loved music so much he told his counselor he wanted to be a professional musician.  His counselor told him he couldn’t do that and tried to steer him to other professions. 

Not long after he attended a Ray Charles concert.  He was able to meet Ray backstage and told him he was a huge fan, and that he, too, wanted to be a professional musician, but everyone told him he couldn’t.  Ray asked him to play for him.  After Ronnie finished, Ray asked him, “Do you love it?”  Ronnie answered, “I do!”  and Ray told him to follow his dream.  And he certainly did! 

The next night I saw Martin Short and Steve Martin.  My brother and sister-in-law had already bought tickets so I bought a single ticket in the balcony.  (Not much leg room in the first row of the second section!)  It was an incredible show. 

A little friendly banter

Stepbrother of Jesus

Pretty Little One

  

I do like Steve Martin and think he is very talented, but I am mainly smitten with Martin Short.  I first saw him on Saturday Night Live as Ed Grimley.  I loved him so much then that I dressed as Ed Grimley for Halloween in college.  How many 19 year-old young women would do that?  I walked around with a wire hanger as a triangle and no one knew who I was.  So sad!  

Yes, the girl on my left is dressed like a box of tampons.  

One of my all-time favorite SNL skits is Martin and Harry Shearer as synchronized swimmers.  That is just pure genius.  Martin has seemingly not aged in all these years.  Ok, I was sitting in the balcony so I couldn’t see the wrinkles, but he bounced around with the energy of a 25 year-old with his typical knock-kneed dances. 

Two of my favorite geniuses in two nights.  I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, I must say!