Tour de France Bliss

Tomorrow, the Tour de France begins. We'll kick it off with French Toast for the 8:30 broadcast. This is a fun three weeks for our family. It has already started off crazy with nine contenders exiting the competition due to the Spain doping scandal. It is disappointing to lose some top cyclists to these accusations. If proved to be innocent, it is costly timing of this.

I am delighted the Floyd Landis, George Hincappie, and Levi Leipheimer have greater chances of finishing in the front now. That makes it more exciting for me. I am cheering for Americans this year, and the Discovery Team. Kind of a splintered loyalty, but it broadens my chances of having more fun watching.

I've already seen funny commercials and enjoyed some broadcasting from Phil, Paul, and Bob. Since I met Paul and Bob in February at the Tour of California, it is even more fun to watch them. We saw Hincappie, Landis, and Leipheimer, too. Makes it all more real!

Who will wear yellow in Paris in three weeks?

Promise of Summer Vacation

I am working feverishly in the heat to get all the year-end reports and paperwork done so I can end the school year and start the delicious summer break. I am so close to the internal bliss of knowing the work is done and summer has begun! It takes discipline for me to stay focused on the work at hand. All I can think about is the hope summer provides that the time to catch my breath has arrived. I am spoiled by the teacher vacations. I was in business for years with only two or three weeks off each year. Can't imagine how I coped!

Quotes to Consider

All the quotes are from Dean William Ralph Inge...

"A nation is a society united by delusions about its ancestry and by common hatred of its neighbors."

"Events in the past may be roughly divided into those which probably never happened and those which do not matter."

"The aim of education is the knowledge not of facts but of values."

William Ralph Inge lived June 1890-February 1954. He was a professor of divinity at Cambridge, and a columnist for the Evening Standard. He wrote several books on mysticism. His nickname was "The Gloomy Dean" because of his pessimistic views in his column.

I liked the quotes above, especially the third one because I agree with it. The other two are interesting and possibly true. I will have to give them more thought. I can see why he possibly got his nickname!

DaVinci Code or Truthiness

Today, The DaVinci Code was screened at the lovely Canne Film Festival. This book, purchased in the FICTION section of the local bookstore, has hit the big screen. Haven't read the book. I, an aspiring-to-be-published writer, am fascinated with and applaud the efforts of Dan Brown to write fiction so close to/mixed with truth that it results in such cultural awareness. As far as the truthiness (credit: Stephen Colbert), it is fiction and entertainment, and until I engage further with the story, I can't run it through my own truthiness filter. As a socially-responsive [sympathetic with Democrats on many issues] Christian, I'm not sure how much more energy to devote to this. I may read the book. I may see the movie. I do need to be more thoughtful in general, including all this, since it is upsetting to so many. However, I need to devote energy to cleaning the living room for now. So much controversy, so little time. Well, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Opus Dei.

Life Goes On...

Friday, we went to the memorial service for our friend, Tim. He passed away May 4, 2006, age 45, fighting the cancer all the way to the end. We crowded into a local church with several hundred others, many friends we hadn't seen in years. His suffering is over. He is in Heaven and I firmly believe that and find hope in that. Life does go on...into eternity and on to Heaven.

Yet Tim is gone from here, separated from his wife and daughters. Away from all of us. And that hurts. Our lives go on, too, but we will miss him and learn to live life wishing he could be part of it still. I never expect it when wonderful couples have to part due to death. That always comes as a tragic surprise.

My week was filled with things that were inconvenient and annoying at various levels. None of those aggravations were tragic, though. I looked at my spouse, hold his hand, and renew my commitment to be grateful for every day shared with him. Life goes on...every day a gift. And a future in Heaven.

Somewhere Between Hope and Heartache

I am feeling blue today. I have a big project due Thursday for my job, so that has me feeling edgy to begin with. Our dishwasher is not working, so that has me feeling inconvenienced and annoyed. We are headed toward the expense of repair or replacement. Ugh. My doggie, Ashley, is really slowing down in her recent senior days. She stumbled/fell yesterday and today due to poorly functioning hips. She seems to muddle through, but it is hard to watch. She does seem content, and often her normal self, and I am grateful. She is sleeping more and struggling, as she nears her final days (which could be near or a year or two away). So, I am mellow. My friend called to let us know our other friend, Tim (in his 40's), has entered the hospital in extreme pain. He has been battling colon cancer for about a year and a half. I was told he has several days to several weeks left. He has a wife and three girls (college age, high school, and junior high). So, I am sad. I am reminded again that life (for appliances, pets, and loved ones) has a cycle. I am reminded again to hold on lightly and treasure the good in each day. I am reminded yet again that letting go is hard. I am reminded that projects will get done, dishwashers don't really matter, and sharing life with a good dog and good friends for even a time makes me rich. Life risks pain, but it is worth it. Simply stated, I cling to the hope of Heaven, a promise that brings some peace.

I Love the Outdoors...cough, cough!

I do love the outdoors. I live in Southern California with mild temperatures and enough really hot days. I tend to enjoy sitting outside at restaurants or Starbucks, just to enjoy the view and the climate. Unfortunately, now the outside, at least in eating settings, belongs to smokers. It is disappointing to enjoy a lovely day and take a deep breath just to inhale second hand smoke. Gag. Cough. Sputter. And so I move. Or breath through my napkin. It is totally disgusting...the habit, the stinking air, and of course the health risks and waste of money. I understand that they can no longer smoke inside, and I am grateful for that, too. But it is just sad to wreck a nice time outdoors this way. Sigh.

Just Not That Into It

I'm just not that into getting gifts this year for Christmas. Two events have me twisted about this traditional part of my holidays past that I usually really enjoy, having fun opening surprises on Christmas morning. First, my mom was diagnosed with colon cancer in January, had surgery, and went through chemo. She is doing well and the cancer is quiet and gone for now. I am so grateful. She and my dad just told me they want to travel to the West Coast to share Christmas with us, and we were able to get a good fare! I am so glad to be able to celebrate with my parents again this year. Pure and simple. Material gifts seem small in comparison. The second thing is the suffering that continues with the folks in the New Orleans area. Even though there is not much I can do to help at this time, it just feels disrespectful to want more when so many have lost so much. So, I'm content with what I have. I have so much. Plus, I did get this new computer (and a free Ipod) this fall --- a budget buster, but had to have it to continue my job. Practical and fabulous. Satisfied in heart and soul. Merry Christmas.

Complaints about Christmas

It is the official Christmas season, now, with Thanksgiving over. Already I've heard others complain about being busy, not being ready, etc. And it is not even December yet!

It is Christmas -- a celebration of Christ's birth on earth. Jesus was born. Simply born. He didn't wait for us to be ready. Good move. In fact, it was also a busy time with everyone going to town to register to be taxed. Seemed like all the bed and breakfasts were full, so it must have been a busy, bustling, scene, too. So busy that Jesus was born out with the animals, who simply get along day to day.

No one got up at 4:00am to be at the store by 5:00am to get the right gift at an unbelievably low price. In fact, just the opposite. I hear that the wise men came two years after Christmas with their gifts. Now, sales are announced constantly on TV and we get a pile of catalogs daily. Jesus was announced by angels. And not to the shoppers to come take advantage of this can't be beat deal, but to the down-to-earth shepherds at work. They freaked out, but then made their simple way to Jesus to see for themselves.

So, I'm all for enjoying Christmas and keeping it simple and sweet. I can say no to offers of more activity before my schedule causes me stress. I can say yes to traditions that are meaningful. I can find the beauty of this time in so many quiet moments, and in time with loved ones...family and friends. I can have lots of holiday fun and decorate our home. I can make choices and avoid the crazy momentum this month seems to demand. I can choose to celebrate the birth of Christ in a variety of ways, public and personal, making this a memorable season to rejoice in our redemption. The world went on its busy way and most were not even aware of the babe born in Bethlehem. Just those that were listening in the fields and watching the night sky. Peace on earth.

Quote of the Week

"There will always be an audience for innocence in this country." —Charles Schulz

That is a refreshing thought, and it could be very accurate. I came across it as I was wondering when "Charlie Brown's Christmas" will be televised this year. I have watched that cartoon special almost every December since 1965, when I was in fifth grade, age 10. I still enjoy it to this day, own the video, and hope to get the DVD perhaps this year. I think the quote above answers some of why I enjoy it. I also love the music and the falling snow. I am often "snowsick" at this time of year...wishing for snow, though I now reside in a climate that would not permit such a weather event. I miss snow from my Midwest roots until about mid-January.

So, doing a web search for the 2005 broadcast, I found more information about the show that was interesting to me. At www.factmonster.com/spot/cbrown1.html, I found out that the critics saw no value in this show, but the viewers made it a big hit...

"The basics of the cartoon were laid out within a few hours. It would include ice-skating; a pageant (Mendelson and Schulz had both flubbed parts in school shows); a mix of Christmas carols and Guaraldi's contemporary jazz; and the message that Christmas is really about the joyful miracle of Jesus's birth. Schulz wanted 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' to have the religious meaning that was central to his own experience of Christmas. And though the special was made in California, Schulz wanted it to include snowy scenes that recalled his native Midwest.

Even Schulz admitted that he was probably the only person who could have gotten A Charlie Brown Christmas made. Television executives hated it from the start. It was criticized as being too religious—Linus quotes straight from the King James Bible (Luke 2:8-14). It was criticized for featuring contemporary jazz, an offbeat choice for a cartoon. It was criticized for not having a laugh track. It was criticized for using the voices of real children (except for Snoopy, who was voiced by animator Melendez).

But it was an instant hit with viewers and reviewers alike. On Thursday, December 9, 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas was seen in more than 15 million homes, capturing nearly half of the possible audience. That week it was number two in the ratings, after Bonanza. It won critical acclaim as well as an Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program and a Peabody Award for excellence in programming." -- from FactMonster

Quote of the Week

"There's a fine line between chaos and creation." -- Paul McCartney

Just saw a commercial for a new CD by legendary musician, Paul McCartney. I found the line I just quoted to be thought-provoking. It is part of the lyric to one of the songs on the new CD. It seems to fit many opportunities in which I currently find myself working and/or serving. Do you agree with the quote? Have you experienced that fine line in any life situations? Where would you draw the line?

Sports and Kids

I attended my nephew's cycling race this morning, and had a fun time watching kids "play(?)." Physically, cycling seems like a healthy sport for kids. It was great to watch the cyclists speed by, hear relatives cheer, and see the officials hard at work with lap counters, stop watches, and finish line cameras. Where else is it OK for a kid to go so fast? Yet, even this kids' sports appeared to bring out a competitive and exclusive side of life for the cyclists.

I have no children. I have never walked in the land of opportunity for children who wish to excel in a sport. My parents encouraged me to try a variety of experiences through their words, signing me up, paying fees, sending me to camp, and driving me to lessons, practice, etc. I just don't recall the level of attitude intensity and sports expertise that kids today can access in certain communities.

I am amazed at the equipment, special items, uniforms, and fees to join some organized sport activities. In a different day and place, we just met in the backyards with a can to kick. I am also stunned by the impact the demands of these activities have on family schedules and wallets. It appears that if your child gets to high school, and then takes an interest in a sport, the chance to succeed in that sport may be gone. Too late to catch up with peers who listened to training songs while yet in the womb!

My question is how does a parent keep perspective on a healthy competitive edge? When does a parent ooze on over to a whatever-it-takes no-matter-the cost my-child-above-all-others mentality? Today, I heard comments from parents standing near me or walking by me that seemed too intense for me (excluding my own relatives, naturally). When does a child lose their sense of childhood and morph into a sports machine, with proud parents pushing so hard that friends are alienated?

In this summer's movie "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," there is a humorous example of a mother-daughter competitive duo that is an example of this over-the-top spirit and drive. It is an exaggeration, but I almost felt I'd met some similarly focused parents. Maybe I'm just too in favor of a different speed of childhood. I am not very competitive, and that might be the basis of my discomfort, too. However, how do parents keep the universe revolving around what really counts, not just around this season's sports schedule and coach's demands?

Tour de France Blues

(or shall I say "bleues" Oui?)

Each July, for the past few years, my schedule revolves around the OLN broadcast of the Tour de France. I wake up to it. I go to bed to the re-broadcast of the day's stage. I hang on every well-turned descriptive phrase and witty remark of Phil, Paul, Bob, and Al as they do the non-stop announcing. I thrill at the competition, shudder at the climbs, panic through the mobs of fans on narrow passages, laugh at the clever commercials, and find refreshment in the scenery, villages, and behind the scenes extras. I eat French Toast for breakfast during Stage 1. My vocabulary now includes phrases such as "reach deep into the suitcase of courage." I feel at a loss when it all ends in Paris, though exhausted from the stress of who will win and all the nuances and strategies of how that is calculated and achieved.

As former American football fan who has switched her loyalties, I now fully appreciate the athleticism of cyclists and have developed a distaste for the body slamming shoving of a small orb across merely maybe 100 yards on a flat surface, with an occasional kick. Football has lost its appeal.

I am grateful to Lance Armstrong for the skill and character he has displayed, the thrills and chills that has brought to our house, and the education I have gotten just watching this event over three years. I am grateful when the other riders excel, too, making it all the more spellbinding.

I acknowledge how it has impacted the way I handle personal challenges. I had a difficult challenge on Saturday in my kayaking class. I had to get back in the kayak from deep water. I am not an athlete, though I love the water. This was a very hard task for me. I kept at it and said aloud, "There are tougher things than this!" My instructor asked if I'd had children, and I said, "No, riding a bike in the Pyrennes." And I did get in the kayak eventually, but it was a big struggle. And I didn't bonk.

On Sunday, July 24, it all ends for another year. Back to my normal routine. Sigh. Thank you to everyone involved in making it a great event to share via broadcast. I will miss the Tour de France and look forward to watching again next summer, and I'll be looking for a bold new leader to emerge as Lance Armstrong retires.

Starting Out

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