Phil Collins (the sequel), Shakespeare, Andre Agassi and The Army

Against All Odds

Driven to succeed or just stupid,
That is the question?
Whether tis nobler in the mind to fight, wounded, to the death
Or by opposing injury, end then

Yeah – I know the real thing works better, but here is MY question:

I have a friend who ran a marathon with a broken foot. I was, and am, impressed by her stamina and determination….but, wow – what if she had never walked again? Were those 26.2 miles worth it?

Another impressive friend got me thinking about this topic the other day as he spoke about amazing moments in tennis when, against all odds, injured greats, battled on and won. (The most important of those involving the best ever, Andre Agassi…., but there are many other amazing tales of triumph.)

What is an “acceptable business risk” and what is the decision process these athletes went through when they decided to gamble their millions-of-dollars-worth bodies and play on.

I said to my friend, “There’s a point where it becomes insanity. But, right before that point it is inspiring.”

Part of why Agassi was so successful, and inspiring, is that he was willing to risk it all (and he is talented). I don’t really have to conduct a similar risk assessment – losing a Nike or Wheaties contract or being damaged for life…, but I do wonder what is at stake when I don’t choose to fight a good fight, or incorporate the counsel Polonius gave Laertes…

This above all: to thine own self, be true.

There is much this statement could imply, but for me it is more than just what not to do (like not carousing with lascivious friends or like not giving up in the face of a challenge). It also infers what TO do (like “be all you can be” or live life well….follow your dreams….etc..).

So – I ask: Is my "acceptable risk" inspiring. Can I run a broken-foot marathon?

DECADE OF JOY

Are you one of those people who thinks writing in a journal is really important and yet your journal entries look like:

ENTRY 1 - Jan 1, 1989 - New Journal...so motivated....pledge to be better.... the world's best journal writer.... detailed description of my day...
ENTRY 2 - Jan 3, 1989 - Rats!, was so committed and missed a day, but.....I'll be better.... less detailed description of my day...but still a success...
ENTRY 3 - Jan 4, 1989 - Yay, me! Two days in a row....feel so happy....what a great day...

ENTRY 4 - Jan 1, 2001 - Shame!!!!!.....look at how long it has been...where do I even start and what events are gone forever because I didn't capture them when they happened...five hours later and 12 years of events..., I'm almost caught up...

And it starts again.

Yeah - that's me. I totally believe in journal writing and keeping a record, but to my utter shame, like my annual resolution to budget, journaling too, lasts but a few days.

So, what follows is Entry 4; and it took me a ridiculous amount of time.

The theme for the decade of 40s is JOY. And, while there certainly have been struggles this year, I have also had a lot of fun:

Parties
Valentines/Bugsy Malone party with the kids

Hat/Tea Party with the girlies(We missed you girls who weren't with us... next year!)

Pig party for the April 1st Celebration - with Pigs in a Blanket, pig toys and books, and licorice ice cream. We're thankful for pig valves in our family.


The Australians

Trips
Mesa to see Henry and Paul and Kami and baby girl niece :) - where we ate at fun places, shopped, fed ducks and played at the park, went to Spring Training, and got me addicted to Lost.



St. Louis to see Tiana, Bror, Inj & Melanie, where we went to a Cardinals game - complete with an airport-devastating tornado, saw Abraham Lincoln's home, toured the Anheuser Busch facility, celebrated Easter (in style thanks to a very thoughtful Chris - my brother's father-in-law, who bought me and Mellie hats to keep up my Dad's tradition); and I also caught a three-month cold/cough.
Hawaii for a "Its ok that you're 40 now" relaxing vacation.


I did some "radical" things with my appearance
PINK extensions (the purple from the chocolate party turned hot pink....and had to come out).

And then, I started going shorter...

And shorter...

Until....look what happened....

Yep. I'm "that age." Glasses. So - of course, I took advantage of that opportunity and got black and whites (above) and Kate Spade's (below). Had to. (And I'm about to get some Fendi sunglasses.... its an illness, I know.... but, remember how this is the decade of JOY.)

Most importantly, I've been having a great time with my sweet family...

And, of course, I have continued to eat chocolate to my heart's content.

So - now you and my journal are all up to date.

March Madness Report

So, this was by far my best bracket contest showing EVER. The sports “universe” has recognized my lack of loyalty to BYU and granted me a seat at the table with the great bracketologists of the world!! (This won't happen again, so just let me exaggerate and gloat for a minute.)

In one contest, I took 1st & 2nd place (submitted two brackets).

In another contest, I took 3rd.

Not sure the other contest should count really (25th place).

I did four different brackets for three different contests. Pretty great showing, right?!

These great wins prove ignorance is, indeed, bliss.

Now, where are my prizes, people?

whY?

It was inevitable, I suppose. In fact, I almost expected it. Years and Years of unappreciated loYaltY and ruined brackets and then, the Year I finally saY, “Enough!” the stinkers win. Unreal.

TheY should have thought to ask me to not pick them Years ago. I even cheered against them (which felt a bit odd), in a room full of blue. To no avail though. Brackets (all four) still ruined.

TheY’ll probably dance their waY to the sweet sixteen - or worse - and completelY obliterate mY brackets.

The funnY thing is, I don't care one bit about who wins reallY - its just about mY brackets and the thrill of getting completelY uneducated guesses right. So sillY.

Don’t You just love March Madness?!!

Bracketology

Does anyone else find it funny how we turn a form of exercise and entertainment into a “science” every March? I think it is simply silly. But I love it.

My version of “science” has typically included things like uniform colors, mascots, handsome men . . . with a little smattering of looking at their season records and offensive/defensive strengths. Also – loyalty plays into my science. I typically pick Utah schools to win at least one game – especially BYU since it is my alma mater.

HOWEVER, they (BYU) fail me (and more importantly, ruin my bracket) EVERY YEAR!! Last year, I vowed NEVER AGAIN to pick them to win one single game; but, this year I was talked into one more year of loyalty. Predictably, they let me down and messed up my bracket AGAIN!!! Aaaagggh!

“Science” or not, they are OFF THE LIST. I am finished with them forever.