In The Swim Of Things

A week ago, I went to a public pool around the corner from my place, and had myself recording "swimming."

I placed quotation marks around the word, swimming, because whether or not I was actually performing the task might be debatable. Haaaa!

Truth be told, I feel very comfortable in the water. Regardless the depth. But I'm not a strong swimmer.

I have never mastered the breathing in freestyle swimming, thus, I keep my head above water, or swim underwater until I am almost completely out of breath.

Not good.

I've often thought to myself that if I were on a boat that capsized, I'd probably swim on my back and my side until I got to shore. Swimming freestyle on my stomach would tucker me out within moments.

I say all this to say that, at 55, I'm gonna take a real swim lesson for the first time. Everything I know how to do now was learned during my scouting days by trial, error and repetition.

While I'm learning to swim properly, I may as well learn to dive too, because all previous attempts to dive have wound up as semi-painful belly-flops! OUCH! 

Can I Get An Amen?

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! 

Danny Gokey, Thank You

Danny Gokey

I am not a religious man.

Treating people the precise way I want to be treated is my religion.

Tonight, I just stumbled across a song that moves me beyond description!

I know the singer is singing about "God."

And that's fine by me.

Because the message of the song can apply to anybody.

Believer.

Or not.

I can't stop listening to it.

Because it's singing my thoughts.

I'm closer than I think I am to PERSONAL FULFILLMENT.

And PROFESSIONAL FULFILLMENT.

And IMMEASURABLE INNER PEACE.

I just haven't seen it yet.

But I know my BEST is yet to COME!!!!!!

Danny Gokey, Thank You for reminding me, though.

HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET (Lyrics)

Hmm 

Have you been praying and you still have no answers? 
Have you been pouring out your heart for so many years? 
Have you been hoping that things would have changed by now? 
Have you cried all the faith you have through so many tears? 

Don't forget the things that He has done before 
And remember He can do it all once more 

It's like the brightest sunrise 
Waiting on the other side of the darkest night 
Don't ever lose hope, hold on and believe 
Maybe you just haven't seen it, just haven't seen it yet 
You're closer than you think you are 
Only moments from the break of dawn 
All His promises are just up ahead 
Maybe you just haven't seen it, just haven't seen it yet (oh) 
Maybe you just haven't seen it, just haven't seen it yet (oh) 
Maybe you just haven't seen it 

He had the solution before you had the problem 
He sees the best in you when you feel at your worst 
So in the questioning, don't ever doubt His love for you 
'Cause it's only in His love that you'll find a breakthrough, oh 

It's like the brightest sunrise 
Waiting on the other side of the darkest night 
Don't ever lose hope, hold on and believe 
Maybe you just haven't seen it, just haven't seen it yet 
You're closer than you think you are 
Only moments from the break of dawn 
All His promises are just up ahead 
Maybe you just haven't seen it, just haven't seen it yet (oh) 
Maybe you just haven't seen it, just haven't seen it yet (oh) 
Maybe you just haven't seen it 

And He is moving with a love so deep 
Hallelujah for the victory 
Good things are coming even when we can't see 
We can't see it yet, but we believe that 
He is moving with a love so deep 
Hallelujah for the victory 
Good things are coming even when we can't see 
We can't see it yet, but we believe that 

It's like the brightest sunrise 
Waiting on the other side of the darkest night 
Don't ever lose hope, hold on and believe (don't ever lose hope) 
Maybe you just haven't seen it, just haven't seen it yet 
You're closer than you think you are (yes, you are) 
Only moments from the break of dawn (Oh) 
All His promises are just up ahead 
Maybe you just haven't seen it, just haven't seen it yet (oh) 
Maybe you just haven't seen it, just haven't seen it yet (oh) 
(You gotta hold on, hold on)
(Hold on)

'Cause He is moving with a love so deep 
Hallelujah for the victory 
Good things are coming even when we can't see (yeah) 
We can't see it yet, but we believe that 
He is moving with a love so deep 
Hallelujah for the victory
Good things are coming even when we can't see 
We can't see it yet, but we believe that

I believe
Oh, I believe
That our best is yet to come
Oh, your best is yet to come.

Expired

By golly, I think this young lady might be on to something!!!!! :) :) :) :) 

Crispy AF

Whenever I go to a backyard cookout, if the hot dogs don't look like the photo above, I DON'T WANT 'em!

#GimmeBurntHotDogsOrGimmeNothingAtAll

Mr. Jackson (If You're Nasty)

Last night, I had the unexpected pleasure of running into Mr. Curtis Jackson.

No, not THAT Curtis Jackson.

But THIS Curtis Jackson!

The COOLER one!

The Curtis Jackson who put himself through architecture schooling by exotic dancing and working catering events. In fact, I actually met him at a catering event. We both were waiters.

Well, tonight, we ran into each other at NoHo Park. He was jogging, and I was heading over to the outdoor, calisthenics workout area.

As soon as I spotted him, I stopped, saluted him (as I do most people when I see them), then wound up chatting for half an hour or so. Hell, probably 45 minutes! Damn, we can talk! Haaa!

He told me he no longer does the exotic dancing thing (nor the catering), and has begun his own business. I absolutely love how eloquently he expresses his thoughts.

We talked about politics, our families (especially our mothers), and our love lives. Or lack thereof!

It was interesting to learn that his mother's life is as much a mystery to him as my mother's life is to me. And what makes it so interesting is that both of us had our mothers in our lives from the very beginning of our lives; so, it's not like they abandoned us at some point. They just never shared info about their lives pre-children.

I told Curtis I'm determined to one day find out more about my mother via one of these DNA companies, so we'll see what we see.

The man is a bright and loving soul. I wish him the very best!!!!!

Hell, that's my wish for everybody!!!!!! 

Capitalism

Enough said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!