Peaches Anyone?

Normally, I'm not a peach eater - it's all about the fuzz! But after one look at these peaches, I'm sold. There will be more posted as to their origin in a later post. Enjoy!

Marathon Dreams ...

... on hold, for now at least!

I forgot to mention that I have heel spurs on both of my feet. They tend to flare when I take my hours on end walks/jogs. If anyone has any suggestions for alleviating the seemingly never-ending pain, please send me a note!

To Dialyze or Not?

I choose not!!!

It has been over a year since my world was rocked once again due to health problems. This time, the diagnosis was diabetes. (Yup, another nasty thing I picked up in the Delta!) I would like to say it has been an easy adjustment but the opposite is true. For the most part, this is due to deprivation of certain vices I held so dear to me for the longest time. It suffices to tell you I do not bake potato bread and other such breads ... ARGH!!!! Just the physical act of preparing bread was an emotional outlet. There have been moments of weakness when I do sneak in a loaf of bread or a bowl of white rice. Lately, I have been craving these starches like crazy. Then I met a woman today that completely changed all of that nonsense.

This woman, like myself, is diabetic. Throughout her diabetic progress (for lack of a better word), she felt fine. She did not take her medication, continued to eat as she did prior to her diagnosis. She now has to undergo dialysis every three days. This was my cosmic mirror showing me the likely outcome of my lack of care. I profusely thanked her and whatever power was at work to make this meeting happen.

I should have known better since my mother died of diabetic complications but seeing the needles and scars from previous needles on this woman scared me straight. I thought of my family and I just do not want to leave an ugly corpse behind! Of course, change is necessary. That change will be slow but firm.

Two Days In ...

... doing fabulous! Feeling inspired by a Stations of the Cross session, this year's Lenten season is bound to be life-altering. My last year's Lenten challenge was not to swear - or at least not in the presence of others! Hee! Hee! Over all, I did fairly well. You wouldn't know that though!

Due to the last week's events, I feel I have a good footing going into this year's Lenten season. If I were to give up something, I do not feel it could embody the essence of the season: resurrection. In my case, I know what I need to do ... the challenge is actually doing it!

Truth be told, I'd like to run a marathon. I've been told that due to a right knee injury, that isn't a possibility. Well, whose to say what is possible/not possible? I was told I was not going to live past 30. When I first received that diagnosis, my life froze. I have to say that life after 30 has been wonderful and a true blessing. (Oops, I just aged myself!) I'd like to incorporate some of your running tips into my routine. (Can we start printing tees for the Miler's Club, 2010 edition yet? :) ) Of course, it may take me longer (there's no time crunch) but there is a marathon out there with my name on it.

I Told You So ...

Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Man, did I ever receive an overdose of lessons recently, deservedly so! I did some things that I am not too proud of - things that seem so out of my character but learned so much about myself in the process. It seems like trying to track down exactly what, when and how it happened is utterly fruitless now. There are things that are transient, not meant to last. However that does not mean that they do not mean any less.

Thank you so much for not telling me, "I told you so". It means so much to me. Y'all know just how stuff just has to happen to me in order for it to finally sink in ... just take your lesson and run! It is time to move on!!

Let There Be Cotton!

My recruits and I have been anxiously waiting for the cotton harvest season (aka: ginning) to begin. Hopefully with no more rain, they can begin working in about a week or two. Many of these workers have migrated from Florida. Once the 'ginning' season is over, they will be returning to Florida to harvest oranges.

Three Little Pigs

Once upon a time there were three little pigs and the time came for them to leave home and seek their fortunes . . . in Mississippi!

Oh, the things you'll see en route to a recruit's home! These pigs were cruising along Sharkey Road, Charleston, Tallahatchie County, Mississippi. It does not get much rural than this either. Wait ... yes, it does! It is starting not to phase me anymore though.

The Climb of All Climbs

For a second year, Bruce Thew is hosting an Amani Children's Home Golf Day this September. Intrepid Guerba Travel, a long-time supporter of the Amani kids, is offering two free treks up to the Roof of Africa as a raffle prize for Bruce’s event. Bruce’s company, Activenes Consultancy, will contribute £500 per person towards the costs of flights. Every cent raised in the raffle will go to help the Amani children.

Whether you have an adventurous spirit – or want to make a difference with your feet firmly on the ground – this is a great opportunity. Last year the climb raffle raised nearly £5000, sending 53 children to primary school for an entire year. With your help we can make it possible to give more children the opportunities that an education brings. Please visit http://www.justgiving.com/brucethew1 to buy your raffle tickets today!

Amani Children’s Home is dedicated to the protection of Tanzania’s most vulnerable population: street-children and AIDS orphans. It is estimated that there are 2.5 million orphaned children in Tanzania. Since its founding by Tanzanians in 2001, Amani has rescued hundreds of children from the perils of life on the streets, where they face a high risk of HIV transmission, malnutrition, and abuse.

Thanks and I hope to see you at Mt. Kili!

... To New Ventures!

For the past two months my world has been completely altered. For starters, I am the new Mississippi Migrant Education Services Center Recruiter/Advocate for the Mississippi Delta! Basically my job is to find migrant individuals and families throughout fourteen counties in the northern Mississippi Delta and use national Migrant Education Program standards to recruit them into Mississippi Migrant Education Services Center based out of Mississippi State University. (WOW! I get to work for a prestigious university!) Secondly I have a car, La Rosa/The Rose! Not many cars have a name but mine does! She has been my faithful companion in my travels. (More on her later.)

When I think back to the ongoings of two months, a year and four years ago, I do not recognize myself. I have been told that the Delta ages you. Perhaps that is true in my case as well. I feel I have aged ten years! To think, all of that good/not so good stuff started with one globalization conference four years ago.

Going Mobile, Part 2

As of yesterday afternoon, I was officially declared a licensed Mississippi driver! (This license adds to the so many others you have granted me! :) ) Here in Mississippi, you have to pass three tests in order to get a driver's license: vision, written/computerized and driving. As suspected, I put too much emphasis on the written/computerized test.

I read the "Mississippi Driver's Manual" booklet from cover to cover and dissected every word. (I might apply for a motorcycle license at a later time for scooter use.) The actual written/computerized test is only 30 multiple choice questions. One cannot miss more than six question in order to proceed to the driving test. If one is not sure of a question/answer, one can skip the question and return to it once one goes through the entire test. One also have the option of having the questions read to them through a phone connected to the test station. One has four hours to complete the test. I might have taken 15 minutes to complete the test, if that. The driving test was fairly easy-peasy.

My test consisted of driving around a residential area intersected by highways 8 and 61. Thankfully my tester didn't make any comments about my driving until the end of the test - which all she said was that my left turns are slightly wide.

A much due celebration took place at Airport Grocery with two rounds of pool. I, of course, let Giuseppe royally beat me! Many thanks go to Mrs. Odom. Without her, I would not have had the opportunity to have a license. Giuseppe, there are no words to express my feelings towards you. You are my night turned into a sunny dawn.

Obtaining my driver's license is part of a seemingly long process. On Friday, that process will take me to a great opportunity. I really don't want to jinx myself by parlaying all the details ... but things are turning around ... poquito a poquito, paso a paso ... (little by little, step by step).

Double Decker Spring Run

Double Decker Spring Run
Oxford, MS
Saturday April 25, 2009

10K Run-7:30am
5K Walk- 7:45am
Kids Fun Run- 9am

Early Registration online until April 16th- $20 Online Reg (after 4/16)- $25 Mail In/Office- $25 Race Day- $30 Kids Fun Run- $10 Register online at www.racesonline.com or call 662.234.4651 for brochure and more info.

Rubber Band Therapy

This lenten season has reached its midpoint - actually its slightly over the its midpoint. A new awareness has taken hold in ways that surprise me. What to do with this information is to be played out in the coming months. Inaction is not an option. Contrary to what I posted in an earlier posting, I set cutting swearing/negative thoughts out of my life.

With the aide of rubberbands as reinforcement, I'm keeping that goal in check. I have two rubberbands placed on my left wrist, one is slightly smaller than the other. The smaller band is for snapping back when a cuss/swear word just happens to pop out of my mouth. The larger band is for snapping back when negative thoughts pop up and filter out out of my mouth. Of course I'm not the only one snapping back these rubberbands. For those brave enough to snap these bands, thank you! I didn't realize just how horrible I was at cussing/swearing and how nasty it made me.

What has been interesting is trying to define just what constitutes a cuss/swear word. We know the obvious "bad" words but do words such as "dang", "shoot", "shiznet" (Chi-town word!) and other variations count as "bad" words? Intention would have to play a role in that classification. For the moment, I have included the use of these words as part of my penance.

The Seven Ups

1. Wake UP ... and have a good day
2. Dress UP ... and wear a smile
3. Shut UP ... and learn to listen
4. Stand UP ... for what you believe
5. Look UP ... and see all the wonderful things life has to offer
6. Reach UP ... for something higher
7. Cheer UP ... because you are not alone

The Oscar Goes To ...

... Inspiration Corporation!

Airing during the 81st Annual Academy Awards (aka Oscar's), the following vid is a snipet of the Inspiration Cafe's mission starring its founder, Lisa Nigro. Lisa's story of founding Inspiration Cafe was selected from 2,300 entrants as part of a True North brand contest hosted by Frito-Lay. The reward: a 60-second commercial directed by Helen Hunt and a 25,000 grant to Inspiration Corporation. Congratulations!

To the director: thank you for showcasing all that can be great in humanity through my city.

We're off!

Finding new comfort in old routines (i.e. writing hand written letters to friends and family -- oops, how much for stamps? :), baking ... etc.), my Lenten season is off to a good start. I received my ashen cross with a sense of renewal and awareness. This year isn't marked by so much stuff that I'm giving up but geared towards the rebirth component of the season. (By the way, if I were to give up anything, it would be swearing. Yes, I'm a pottie-mouth!) Lent is about conversion, turning our lives more completely over His way of life. The goal is not just to abstain from sin for the duration of Lent but to root sin out of our lives forever.

Any progress (or deviation) will be posted.