"Quote of the Day June 30. 2009"

"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act".

George Orwell

Six days until I start training. Lucky for me, my friends Connie & Mark are training for a metric century bike race. How far's that; you ask? Calculates out to 63 miles. Have plans to meet-up with them Sunday somewhere along their training course. More than likely, it will be near the end, because it's all about where we go to breakfast afterward.

So, since I'll be cycling with them on Sunday, this means I'll start my swimming on Saturday.

Best thing to look forward to as I train. Eating. The more miles and distance I cover the more I gotta eat!

On another subject, posted this in the "Note's" section of my Facebook page so thought I'd post it here too:

Over the past several days, I've tried to stay away from a majority of the Michael Jackson media blitz currently taking place; however, if you're anything at all like me, this is a tough thing to do.

Checking my email, playing around on Facebook or flipping the channels on the TV, inevitably connects me to the newest and latest tidbit of MJ information hidden in, around and behind seemingly endless, storyline repetition.

At home, my TV reception is one of those new, digital boxes and whatever I can scare-up on Hulu. That's it. No Dish, no Direct TV; no cable.

Given the amount of exposure I've had to Michael Jackson's life along with my own, the shining individual of the moment, for me, is Lisa Marie Presley. If you haven't yet read what she posted on her MySpace blog, you'll find it below.

Recently, a friend of 20 years, accused me of being the biggest narcissist she knows. Having been in this skin nearing 51 years, I'm well aware of how my ability to care for my mental and emotional health and well-being can appear narcissistic; however, I stand by the belief that in order to truly take care of others, we must first take care of ourselves.

In sharing her thoughts about MJ, Ms. Presley is honest and to the point without damage and pure in her own heart knowing what she had to do and ultimately did do for her own survival.

It's a beautiful tribute and walk-through, I believe, to the human condition.


In regard to a conversation she had with Michael during the course of their marriage, Lisa Marie Presley wrote:

"At some point he paused, he stared at me very intensely and he stated with an almost calm certainty, 'I am afraid that I am going to end up like him, the way he did.' I promptly tried to deter him from the idea, at which point he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded almost matter of fact as if to let me know, he knew what he knew and that was kind of that."

"A predicted ending by him, by loved ones and by me, but what I didn't predict was how much it was going to hurt when it finally happened. The person I failed to help is being transferred right now to the LA County Coroners office for his Autopsy. All of my indifference and detachment that I worked so hard to achieve over the years has just gone into the bowels of hell and right now I am gutted. I am going to say now what I have never said before because I want the truth out there for once. Our relationship was not 'a sham' as is being reported in the press. It was an unusual relationship yes, where two unusual people who did not live or know a "Normal life" found a connection, perhaps with some suspect timing on his part. Nonetheless, I do believe he loved me as much as he could love anyone and I loved him very much. I wanted to 'save him.' I wanted to save him from the inevitable which is what has just happened. His family and his loved ones also wanted to save him from this as well but didn't know how and this was 14 years ago. We all worried that this would be the outcome then. At that time, in trying to save him, I almost lost myself. He was an incredibly dynamic force and power that was not to be underestimated. When he used it for something good, It was the best and when he used it for something bad, It was really, REALLY bad. Mediocrity was not a concept that would even for a second enter Michael Jackson's being or actions. I became very ill and emotionally/ spiritually exhausted in my quest to save him from certain self-destructive behavior and from the awful vampires and leeches he would always manage to magnetize around him. I was in over my head while trying. I had my children to care for, I had to make a decision. The hardest decision I have ever had to make, which was to walk away and let his fate have him, even though I desperately loved him and tried to stop or reverse it somehow.

"After the divorce, I spent a few years obsessing about him and what I could have done different, in regret. Then I spent some angry years at the whole situation. At some point, I truly became Indifferent, until now. As I sit here overwhelmed with sadness, reflection and confusion at what was my biggest failure to date, watching on the news almost play by play."The exact scenario I saw happen on August 16th, 1977 happening again right now with Michael (A sight I never wanted to see again) just as he predicted, I am truly, truly gutted. Any ill experience or words I have felt towards him in the past has just died inside of me along with him. He was an amazing person and I am lucky to have gotten as close to him as I did and to have had the many experiences and years that we had together. I desperately hope that he can be relieved from his pain, pressure and turmoil now. He deserves to be free from all of that and I hope he is in a better place or will be. I also hope that anyone else who feels they have failed to help him can be set free because he hopefully finally is. The World is in shock but somehow he knew exactly how his fate would be played out some day more than anyone else knew, and he was right. I really needed to say this right now, thanks for listening."

"Quote of the Day June 29, 2009"

"There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom".

Anais Nin

"Quote of the Day June 28, 2009"

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong".

Mohandas K. Gandhi

Let's see, no triathlon training today. Lots to do before heading out to Simi Valley this afternoon for a wedding with plans to visit the Ronald Reagan Library. Given my love for travel and flight, wanna lay my eyes on Air Fore One in and out.

Also gonna stop by my, favorite, Italian market in Burbank and pick up some pizza making fixins'; they make their own sausage and marina. Yummy, with a capital Y-U-M-M-Y!

I was going to stay in a hotel overnight, but I think I'm going to head home instead. Lots to do tomorrow, and I really don't want to spend the hundred and twenty-five bucks.

"Quote of the DayJune 27, 2009"

"Great ideas often receive violent opposition from mediocre minds:.

Albert Einstein

"Quote of the Day June 26, 2009"

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power".

Alan Cohen

"Quote of the Day June 25, 2009"

"It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something."

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Find myself, over the past few days, coming in touch with my age. Not in a physical way and not necessarily in a negative one either but somehow age and maturity have intersected with the hard work of self-exploration and personal growth.

"Quote of the Day June 24, 2009"

"If you're going through hell, keep going".

Winston Churchill

Bike rack's still on the car. Think I'll keep it there as my reminder. Need to repackage some stuff in the garage so I can come up with an empty, Rubbermaid, tub to use at Joe's house to catch the drips from my wetsuit once I begin the swimming portion of my, little, triathlon excursion.

Looking ahead to this weekend, I have Deanna's wedding on Saturday out in Simi Valley. Still trying to decide if I wanna stay at the hotel or not. Probably will. Don't need to worry about driving home if it gets late, and I'm always up early, anyway, so I can shoot home Sunday morning giving myself plenty of time to get weekend chores done, orrrrr, I could look for some bike or running trails and take myself on a little trek come Sunday morning. Not a bad idea. And then stop at the Monte Carlo in Burbank on my way home to pick up some pizza making supplies for "Yoga in the Hood". Yum yum. Will have to see what time they open.

Well, off to Nifty Brookhurst. Let the fun begin!

"Quote of the Day June 23, 2009"

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on".

Robert Frost

Well, didn't get around to kicking my triathlon training program into gear this weekend. Put the bike rack on the car Saturday night and got my bike out and ready, but it was a no-go. Sleeping in took precedent. It's all okay, really, since my actual start date is the 4th of July.

And I talked about it to friends who came over for yoga so that counts.

"Quote of the Day June 22, 2009"

"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty".

Winston Churchill

"Quote of the Day June 20, 2009"

"Every man has his follies -- and often they are the most interesting thing he has got."

Josh Billings

Looks like this Saturday is going to be triathlon training day one. Unless, of course, I wait until next week. Giving myself 3 months to prepare and starting this week, would actually be doing so a WHOLE week early. Not sure if it's the realistic, practical side of me or the procrastinating side of me that wants to wait, but I really won't have the answer to that question until the weekend's over.

Once I get started, there'll be a whole lot of focus going on. The three months will go by like lightning.

The one thing I have done is to begin to live like I'm outside the country. I'm making myself, more or less, unavailable. Hiding out almost. Found myself giving away way too much of my energy toward people, mostly, whom I allowed to pull me away from where I say it is I want to go. Taking on the notion that I'm out of the country, keeps me less likely to allow myself to be distracted.

"Quote of the Day June 19, 2009"

"When you discover your mission, you will feel its demand. It will fill you with enthusiasm and a burning desire to get to work on it".

W. Clement Stone

"Quote of the Day June 18, 2009"

"Concealed talent brings no reputation".

Desiderius Erasmus

Ah, Wednesday, hump day. So ready for the week to be over so I'm on to other things like cycling Sunday morning after sleeping in on Saturday. Even if it's only 15 minutes, there was no alarm!

Psyching myself up for the triathlon training. Going easy until this weekend and then I'm not gonna push it. Haven't been on a long bike ride in quite some time so taking it slow is the key. Figure I'll head on down to the San Gabriel River (cement drainage ditch) and see what I can do. Gonna start with my road bike, because it will be a better way to ease into cycling again. As I become more confident and conditioned, I'll switch over to my trail/road bike and start adding some hills.

I'm looking forward to this adventure!

"Quote of the Day June 17, 2009"

"If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking".

General George S. Patton

Haven't yet taken the time to work on a training schedule for the triathlon. Not sure if it's procrastination or my believing I actually have plenty of time to train. If I start July 1, that give me 3 months, because the event is October 4th. Part of me thinks I should just jump right in with all this sorta killer instinct, woo woo go for it emotion, but the practical part of me says I've got to plan this out and do it in such a way as to be physically safe as well as most productive. Took this approach when training for Chicago in 2005, so it should serve me well this time around.

I've made plans to use Joe's house on the Peninsula as my base camp, so to speak, making it a lot easier to get the swimming portion of this adventure under my belt. Plan to pick up some sort of tub or container to catch water allowing me to hose off and hang my wetsuit in Joe's garage between trainings. It's a pain in the neck having to change clothes alongside my car in the street while wrapped in a towel; not to mention, making a mess of the car with all the sand and, of course, the wet wetsuit. I can change in the garage as well and just toddle on across Ocean to the channel between Naples and the Peninsula to get my swimming in.

Have decided to go this event alone. Have found, at least at this point in my life, I'm better off doing so. Found myself way too involved in the lives of others and not enough in my own. Figure if people want to spend time with me, they'll figure out a way to do so. I give away way too much of my time.

"Quote of the Day June 16, 2009"

"When a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking if there is something you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it".

Edgar Watson Howe

"Quote of the Day June 15, 2009"

"Patience is the companion of wisdom".

Saint Augustine

Now I've gone and done it; I've registered for my first triathlon this coming October. I've got 3 months to whip myself into shape. Swimming. The swimming's gonna be a killer.

When I ran my first marathon in 2005, during the training process, I pulled, strained, whatever, my IT band (Iliotibial band). Usually, an IT band injury is the cause of lateral knee pain in the runner but no, not me. For me, the pain was in my hip. The IT band somehow wraps around the hip and the pelvis diagonally crossing over the thigh on down to the inside of the knee, I think, is how it works. Anyway, wouldn't yuh know, my injury was less common in the world of athletes; however, it's more so common in pregnant woman due the the added weight on the hips. What this says about me I'm not exactly sure. Ultimately, it hurt like hell every time I put running weight on my right leg. Walking was fine but running no way, never, never, uh, uh uh!

Not wanting to be a quitter, I purchased a wetsuit, flippers and, funny enough, a bathing cap and soon found myself swimming in the bay not far from my home here in Long Beach. I wouldn't necessarily always be swimming although I would do a pretty, fair backstroke when I needed a break. What I would do most is run in the water. I'd go out far enough to be able to float vertically, which in itself is quite the accomplishment, while wearing my flippers, and then I'd run. Well, I wouldn't really call it running, per se, because I barely moved at all as witnessed by everyone on the beach with a "What the hell's he doing out there?" look on their face, but I wasn't in it for the support, I was in it for the goal. The testing of my will. Could I really run my first marathon just a few weeks shy of my 47th birthday when I'd never been anywhere near the least bit sports minded or athletic?

My 28-year-old nephew, Matthew, was a high school and college football player who helped me learn how it's possible to both love and adore someone while at the same time, cursing the day they were born. Matthew's first marathon was Chicago in 2004. I witnessed his successful completion of the event and was so inspired by it, I decided to do the same in 2005, so, alas, I hold him accountable for what I lovingly call my "vertical runs" during the summer of 2oo5.

And now, not only is he to blame for my having run the Chicago Marathon and 3 others since, mind you, he's also to blame for my now thinking I can complete a triathlon. Last month, he completed his first "International" or "Olympic" distance triathlon, meaning, a .93 mile (1.5km) swim, 24.8 mile bike ride (40km) and a 6.2 mile run(10k). I wish I could say I'm insane, for making the decision to attempt my first triathlon just a few weeks shy of my 51st birthday, but the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. I, however, am not expecting a different result; I'm hoping for the same ones I got from my four marathons and that, my friends, is to not drop dead.

While training for the Chicago Marathon, I referred to it as my first, official, suicide attempt so I guess shooting, no pun intended, for my first triathlon, would be my second.

On to the wetsuit, I haven't worn mine since the summer of 2005. Although it wasn't the full deciding factor in my choosing to register for the triathlon, it certainly helped tip the scale over to the "in favor" side when I was able to squeeze my way into it earlier this afternoon and to my surprise, I looked pretty good! Although it is a bit more snug than I recall, all the yoga, Pilates and strength training I've been doing as an instructor, have bulked me up while at the same time, really toned me up making me look a lot less rolllie pollie and dare I say, "buff".

I'm going to consider fitting into my wetsuit as having accomplished hurdle number one. Next, I need to work on a training schedule. The triathlon I've signed on for will include a half mile swim, a 17 mile (uphill/downhill) bike ride and a 6 mile run. Psychologically, I'm gonna tell myself, "p'shaw, the whole thing doesn't even add-up to marathon distance" but ultimately, I know the combination of all three is a whole, new ballgame especially when adding in the swimming. Oy, the swimming!

"Quote of the Day June 14, 2009"

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known".

Carl Sagan

"Quote of the Day June 13, 2009"

" A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing".

George Bernard Shaw

"Quote of the Day June 12, 2009"

Quote of the day: "Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind".

Seneca

"Quote of the Day June 11, 2009"

"that is the best - to laugh with someone because you both think the same things are funny".

Gloria Vanderbilt

"Quote of the Day June 10, 2009"

""I am not concerned that you have fallen -- I am concerned that you arise".

Abraham Lincoln

"Quote of the Day June 9, 2009"

"Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius".

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

"Quote of the Day June 8, 2009"

Quote of the day: "Don't be afraid if things seem difficult in the beginning. That's only the initial impression. The important thing is not to retreat; you have to master yourself".

Olga Korbut

"Quote of the Day June 7, 2009"

"Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are".

Bernice Johnson Reagon

"Quote of the Day June 6, 2009"

"My husband and I have never considered divorce... murder sometimes, but never divorce".

Joyce Brothers

"Quote of the Day June 5, 2009"

"You don't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you're going to live. Now".

Joan Baez

"Quote of the Day June 4, 2009"

"The dream was always running ahead of me. To catch up, to live for a moment in unison with it, that was the miracle".

Anais Nin

"Quote of the Day Jun 3, 2009"

"Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. That is why some people with mediocre talent, but with great inner drive, go much further than people with vastly superior talent".

Sophia Loren

"Quote of the Day June 2, 2009"

"Life is "trying things to see if they work".

Ray Bradbury

"Quote of the Day June 1, 2009"

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched ... but are felt in the heart".

Helen Keller