I am ready

The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein - was recommended here recently by more than one person .. so ...

I looked it up at the book store yesterday, and read much of it while just sitting there among the books and coffee and loves (my hubby and son).

I really like this story. Very much do I like this book. Very very much.

I am ready to finish it.

A slice in time

Click here to see a slice in time. I happened upon it just now. It was an extraordinary moment for me.

Children .. in Paris .. years ago .. doing what children do.

Lesson for me learned. Just be. As if nobody's watching.

It's as if I were a very great somebody

The blog post title is a quote of Lady Washington - brought to us, of course wrapped in a great story - in Cokie Roberts's book about women from our history - we women have much to learn from those women.

- - -

Cokie is a journalist on NPR as a radio voice, she's authored several books and now - she's here (well, linked here anyway). Thank you Pamela for introducing me to Cokie's book Founding Mothers: Women of the American Revolution. I have researched it, I have read reviews on it, I have now heard and seen interviews about it, and now ...

I am the newest fan of this book.

Below is a short radio interview with Cokie about the book -- and then on below, is a video interview about the book (a bit longer - well worth your time believe me).

Listen here.

"Let's Hear it for the Founding Mothers!"

A reminder and a question

Don't forget I'm giving away some books ... click here.

--

Ok, say for instance you don't want a book (perfectly understandable in some small strange way.. really I'm ok with it.. sorta) .. 'ahem' .. if you were to give me a book (in a truly pretend sense of the word 'if') -- what, pray tell, would it be?

Make it a good one. I only read the best.

Cheers - and happy Friday Eve!

Ross E. Mitchell

"We live lives we inherit and those we choose." - Ivy League Insecurities

Who is he - Ross E. Mitchell? Why am I writing about him?

Because - he has proven to me that dreams (like mine) are possible and hard earned. Mr. Mitchell is a graduate of Concord Law School. It is not ABA approved. It is regionally accredited. One, like him - can earn a J.D. (Juris Doctorate) at Concord online.

One, like him - can graduate from law school in California.

One, like him - can take (and pass) the California bar (one of the toughest anywhere).

One, like him - can argue (and win) before a State Supreme Court on behalf of self for the privilege of taking that State's bar.

One, like him - can be admitted to the highest Supreme Court in the land.

Watch him. I could hardly believe my eyes. Go to this link. Scroll down just a bit to "View oral argument with Windows Media Player". Watch. Watch it all. He's up first.

I can so do what he did.

The fabulous girl's guide to free books

Hey - how would you like a free book? I have more books than I have shelves..I even have two and three copies of some of the same books.

Lately, I've seen agents post contests for awarding free books -- and I've seen authors of books do the same (their own books they wrote usually).

I, however - am neither agent nor author (published). Nevertheless, the rules are mine for the making and the books are mine for the giving .. so here goes. The good news -- you don't have to 'follow' me. And -- you don't have to post about this on your blog. Neato, right?!

Facts:

1. Contest ends a week from tonite at midnight. I probably will not be awake in case you are wondering. However, the next morning (next Tuesday morning), I will awaken to see if anyone entered - and I shall exclaim with glee if even one solitary soul has so partaken of the chance(s) herein.

2. Next Tuesday (sometime .. I do have a day job you know.. or maybe you don't know), I will announce the winner of each of the books (if enough commenters have chosen to enter).

3. The prize equals one book per person. I cannot offer a free kindle or a week's vacation in the Bahamas or a critique of a query letter, or even the first 20 pages of any manuscript - alas and alak - because:

a) I am not rich (impecunious .. word of the day .. look it up)

b) I am not even close to rich and

c) I am not an agent - nor an author (yet). I am simply a girl with some books to share.

4. If you want one of these books, here's what to do:

a) tell me you want to win

b) tell me how I can contact you if you do win

c) tell me the specific book (of the ones pictured) you want and why

d) get bonus points if (and only if) you also tell me which one of the thousands (ok, dozens) of posts you like best out of my series, a thousand posts to read before you die

e) and finally ... a double bonus (or bolus) of points if you tell me why you like whichever of the thousands that you picked for (d) above.

5. Basically, the winners will quite simply have moved me (more than anyone else) to the point of granting them one of my valued treasures.

Books. Gems. The written word. To read, to hold, to share, to give, to remember, to not 'delete.'

Forever, I remain ...

Kindle free.

P.s. You may enter as many times as you wish - but with different prose please for each entry.

- - -

These are they (the books of course):

House by Tracy Kidder

Seek the Fair Land by Walter Macken

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler

The Fabuous Girl's Guide to Decorum by Kim Izzo and Ceri Marsh

"I did begin to wonder what the word heaven meant . . ."

Said what I needed to say

Here - back in a 2007 post. I said what I meant to say (read that old post to the end, then you'll understand). I've been fighting with the shadows in my head.

"It's better to say too much, than never to say what you need to say again."

"Even if your hands are shaking, and your faith is broken. Even as the eyes are closing, do it with the heart wide open."

- - -

To any new readers who don't much about my history ... two things surround my most every thought.

One - to write my story in a fictionalized novel, and two - to finish my story with the protagonist finally overcoming her struggle to achieve her dream of graduating from law school.

Ok, three things.. I want the novel ending to be true. So far, it's still fiction.

I went to law school once shortly after I turned 40 years old. I went with much naivete and not enough of a lot of other things (money, time, gas, help -- help was offered, I just didn't accept much).

It's what I worked for and wanted more than anything in the world - honestly.

Unfortunately, one solitary class my first semester of my first year helped (not sure helped is really appropriate) bring me down - and I was suddenly not in law school any more.

That was 2007.

I've been grieving that broken dream mostly in silence to everyone around me - but grieving in screaming volumes of decibels in surround sound stereo to the inside of my soul (yes, even still - today, for instance).

That's my story. Imagined. Desired. Started. Torn up. Unfinished.

- - -

Some (the ones who know I cry) say. Go back. Therein lies the plot. It is not easy. As a matter of fact, it is next to impossible.

Why others (and the 'some') ask?

Because. It costs almost one hundred thousand dollars and no, I'm not kidding.

Also, because. I would have to quit my job of which I am now needful of to pay my mortgage.

Also, because. There is no law school in the state where I reside that is a viable educational route for me. That means, I would have to sell my house and move to another state - depending on IF a school somewhere else accepted me. If, if, if, if ...

You may recall that I have two children (albeit one has moved out and is himself in college). One is in her formative teen years and needs me not to uproot her entire existence.

Why not wait?

Why indeed. The heart of the issue.

Is it the plot of the struggle or the struggle of the plot. There are no easy answers, and as a matter of fact, I'm starting to understand that all the answers are simply eluding me.

Needless to say, my last sentence of my book are not yet written and I'm simply stuck (mired) in the middle. If only I could figure out the second half, I could have a best seller.

But, in the beginning chapter, I said what I needed to say. That's it. I just have to fill in the rest. Somehow. The odds seem insurmountable.

The end (for now).

"When you chase a dream, you learn about yourself. You learn your capabilities and limitations, and the value of hard work and persistence."

- Nicholas Sparks, from Three Weeks With My Brother

.

Today in history

In 1973, a volcano (named the Eldfell) in a very cold and icy place far far away caused great havoc .. but heroes and divine happenstance helped save the people of a harbor town.

More here. I could read about these kind of history stories all day.

Trouble been doggin' my soul

Are you watching American Idol? I am. I'm hooked. Last couple seasons, my daughter and I have really enjoyed watching from the auditions all the way to the very end to see the winner.

This season, my favorite audition so far is this guy -- Matthew Lawrence. His voice is great, his drive to succeed amidst some big trouble in his past is .. well, inspiring.

I like underdogs who try to win. The ones who failed before. The ones who get back up and try life again. The ones who others write off. The ones who know what it is to feel shame. The ones who know life hurts and they do it anyway. The ones who know the end of destiny hasn't happened yet.

Why does this affect me so .. I am that person .. the one who struggles, the one who doesn't want to struggle, the one who dreams, the one who works, the one who fails, the one who cries, the one who plugs along, the one who hopes, the one underestimated, the one who needs, the one who is silent, the one who may never achieve - but gets up .. feet on the floor.. out the door.

Face the music.

Humility is a hard pill to swallow .. but seeing the other ones who do it - well, it soothes my soul.

Here is Matthew Lawrence, singing Trouble, by Ray LaMontagne.



Trouble
Been doggin' my soul since the day I was born

Worry
Just will not seem to leave my mind alone

Trouble
Feels like every time I get back on my feet
She come around and knock me down again

Worry
Sometimes I swear it feels like this worry is my only friend

Twilight of the Close Encounters

Saw this over at Jennifer Bennett's place this morning.

High - lare - ious! It's called, Twilight, What Have You Done To My Wife.

Jacob? Edward? Hubby? Ahhhhhhhh come on. You know who wins.

Wednesday

Wed-nes-day. Say it slowly. Emphasize the 'nes' .. I'm thinking and hearing Tom Hanks. It's from a line in a movie of his .. what is that?

Hmm. Something to ponder while I'm rushing to get to work.

I can't be late you know. I can work all the overtime I want (in fact my boss encourages it) -- but can't be a minute late.

Such a man's world we live in. A world where people not like me have nannies and cooks and housekeepers and mothers who live nearby.

I have not one of those.. I have just me.

So far I've survived.. and hopefully still will.. if I am not late.

This is gonna get messy

If you read my post yesterday (hubby says it's my best ever - probably 'cause it's about him, and involves him being happy in a bed) .. you'll recall that I mentioned re-doing a bedroom that's been promised for me as my 'own room'.


It's not going to be my own room in the sense that I'm moving out of my marital bed .. oh no. It's my room in that I can go there any time I want. And no one else can (unless invited).


My own personal space. I can't wait.


The only problem is - this is what it currently looks like. My 20 year old son who is now in college and has 'moved out' as they say .. left all this loveliness behind just for me.












So - before I get my own room that I actually can (and someday will want to) retreat to .. I have to clean it up and make it presentable.


That's my job for the next few hours, days, weeks, months -- year?! Perhaps.


Well, I'll have plenty to post about I guess.





Currently taking all advice on anything related to house cleaning, child rearing, husband training, budgeting, local drinking establishments, etc. Ok, kidding on the last. Just come on by here and help .. will ya?

Twitter Twit

Question for you:

What the heck do I do with twitter? I'm currently twitter free .. as in fat free, sugar free.. you know - I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

There.

I said it.

Will somebody please tell me specifically what I do first and perhaps even why I should do it. What's it all about alfie?

Tell me. Anybody.

Thank you.

- - -

I'm leaving now. Going to a basketball game of my daughter's. Should be fun. Tired already. It's 2:40 pm and I just now showered and put jeans and a sweater on. I had jammies on. I can't wait to get them back on.

I assure you - when I get back.. and when you hear from me next.. I will once again have aforementioned jammies back on.

TTFN.

Bonus points if you know what ttfn is.

Up on cloud nine

On a morning like this, out of the sea of clouds (words on my screen), there sprang out in the southern sky one interview of a lady about a mystery, with a mention of big bands and great love.

The lady is Jackie Griffey. Her words of her love brought tears to my eyes. I've not heard of her until today, I've not read her new book. But I do believe I love her. People who love and remember and write like she says she loved and how she remembers and writes -- those are people I adore.

Some of her words:

I was married to my Darling Companion, Jim the Gem :-), when I started writing and he was very supportive. He passed away June 29, 2007, the worst day of my life. I miss him every day but am blessed with two wonderful grown children and family plus fellow readers and writers both locally and in cyber space. I know he would approve of this interview and The Devil in Merrivale which will be out soon.

and then ...

(Interviewer) - If you could be anywhere in the world for one hour right now, where would that place be and why?

With Jim on cloud nine or listening to one of the ‘big bands’ with him. I would have gone with him but I wasn’t invited. Got a few more books to write I guess ...

Signs of love along the way... things I so delight in.

This is her book link. This is her blog link.

Random obsessions

How much do I tell? Ok, well - there's this ... my random obsession of the morning includes White Shoes and the Couples Company.

Bent on Jenny

Interesting interview with an agent ... here it is. She's Jenny Bent, literary agent in Brooklyn. She gives a link to a very good list of questions to ask any agent who has offered representation.

I'm learning.

I think I learned what a slush pile is. I don't want to be in that pile I don't think (not for long that is).

Instead

This may be an example of a great query letter (posted by an agent .. she should know).. but I think - for me at least, it's definitely a great example of a great annotated query letter.

Kristin Nelson (agent) describes why she likes the letter (in detail). Now that's quite a teaching moment. I (writer student) learned some new skills.

Show instead of just tell.

Bathtubs bubbles jazz and men in suits

I'm listening to Melody Gardot.. so you should too.. here... ahh the bubbles.

On rubbing shoulders and down the rabbit hole

Ms. Swift is an author - and she wrote a blog post recently about a party she attended (hosted by her literary agent) in Manhattan.

I so enjoyed reading her thoughts and expressions of rubbing shoulders with other writers, most notably Neil deGrasse Tyson (he's an astrophysicist.. I guess I spelled that correctly.. I sure don't spell it often). I think you'll enjoy reading her post too. Here it is.

In fact, in my opinion, it is one of a thousand posts to read before you die.

- - -

Question maybe asked of me: How do you come up with/decide on/find the links to these thousands of posts you deem needful to read before you die?

Answer: Sometimes it's quite random. I'll be reading the usual suspects of favorite blogs and something grabs me and I know it is something I should highlight for others.

Or I go hunting for them ... as in, googling favorite words or phrases or places.. and adding terms such as 'blogspot' or 'cottage' or 'beach house' or some other other random word of the day in my head... I might get a hit on something worthy of my attention.. I might not.. if I do .. then I share it.

Other times I follow a hunch that there's something grand just around the corner if I just follow the rabbit hole far enough. That's what happened this morning.

1. I logged on promptly after my husband left the house (it's quiet and my daughter's not awake yet).

2. I checked for comments to my blog (we all do it don't we?).

3. Started reading updates from my 'often reads' list of fellow bloggers - I usually start with the most recently updated (see sidebar). This morning I clicked over to Pink Tea and Paper (she's in Ireland.. and I bet she has a really cool accent). Her post today is Pants and Seats Thereof (love the title). In it, she links to another blogger's (author - writer of books) post about the actual writing process.. nitty gritty outlining organizing structure related stuff -- written by Janice Hardy. Ms. Hardy's blog is The Other Side of the Story-one writer's take on writing, querying, and publishing (and she writes young adult fantasy).

Ok - at this point I'm hooked.. enjoying my morning reading travels immensely (adverb I know.. but it works for me.. sorry Annie Dillard).

I'm thinking to myself -- wonder who Ms. Hardy's agent is .. so I try to look her up on 'who reps whom' on querytracker.net. Don't see her listed. Darn. I mean dang (Daddy taught me not to say darn when I was little).

Well, hmm. I thought since I'm in the querytracker thingie anyway, why not look up other folks.. see who their agents are.

Alice Sebold. Yes, look up Alice. I recently read The Lovely Bones and enjoyed it.. so, who is her agent? After all, the book is quite successful, and a movie is coming out based on the book. Agent must be doing something right. That's the kinda agent I want.

According to query tracker, her agent is Henry Dunow - of Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency in New York. Click over to their website to explore ... who are their other clients.. what other books..

They have a page linked to their authors and it includes authors' web pages (and quite possibly - blogs).

Yes - some of them have blogs.

This one does. Vivian Swift. Fabulous.

Scrolled down.. read all about Vivian Swift.. and her fun agent's Christmas party where she rubbed shoulders with the aforementioned astrophysicist.

Loved it.

Enjoy.

Mrs. Hercules

What does that mean? Blessed.

Is my life magnificent? What am I celebrating? Being alive?

I guess. Sometimes the words sound better on paper (or web page) than they actually feel. Asleep in the afternoon is what's magnificent. Resting, that's what's nice.

So, am I born to rest? That seems like a waste sometimes. Aren't I supposed to be accomplishing stuff?

I guess.

One day I'll feel blessed as much I want to feel it. I know I am - blessed. I know it with my gut.

But there are days when I don't feel it. Can't control feelings. Just can't. Every cloud has a silver lining... I've heard that lots and lots. One day I'll feel it. Tomorrow?

If every heartache makes me stronger, then I oughta be Mrs. Hercules.

- - -

Whenever I start feeling sorry for myself, I try to remember my Grandma. She had every reason to be downtrodden.. but she wasn't. She was blessed. That's my blessing for today.. to remember her and all she did with not much.

She was suddenly widowed in her 40s.. left with a farm to run in rural Arkansas.. and a teenage son.. and much responsibility.. in 1960.

She did it. She ran it. She survived. She didn't have much help. She sure didn't have a man. She didn't complain.

I asked her sometimes when I was little.. 'why didn't you ever marry anybody else?'.. she'd always say... why in the world would I want to wash some other man's dirty underwear? No thank you.

I totally get that now.

When I'm doing everything else but saving the world from asteroids, why do I need to add washing dirty underwear to the list.

Mrs. Hercules has enough on her plate. Counting peas and blessings. I don't even much like peas.

Fox Mountain

1974. Tenth day of January.

I miss Gramps. Momma told me he went to Fox Mountain a couple weeks ago to stay with Uncle Forrest a while. He had back surgery or something. What is that? They open up your back and shorten it maybe. Can't imagine. I'll keep my back the way it is thank you very much. I heard Uncle Forrest slipped on ice or slid into a tree. Can't remember exactly.

Momma took me up the mountain once. Maybe more. It's been a long time I know that. It wasn't this cold. I know that too.

The moon looked pink last night. Weird. I asked Daddy about it and he said Gramps could tell me about it. Gramps isn't here.

When I grow up I might never talk to anybody ever. Except Gramps. He'll come back when Uncle Forrest is better. Then he'll help me figure out my math project.

Why do so many people say I can't do stuff? I can do stuff. They don't know how smart I am. They should just help me more. One day I'm going to be old and smart and have grandkids and I'll help them. I might be a doctor or a lawyer. Momma says I should be a teacher. I don't think so. Maybe be a nurse. She's a nurse.

Why can't I be more than that? I'm a girl. Boys are stupid and stinky. And plain old selfish. Darn it. Daddy says not to say darn. Momma says don't say crap.

Well dang.

I can do stuff too.

I can.

Gramps says I can be whatever I want to be if I just work hard enough and outdo the boys. It's hard tho.

Momma says I shouldn't get mixed up with boys because I'll get married and start having babies then I can't be a doctor or anything.

I don't get that because boys have babies and they get to be doctors. Well their wives have the babies, but still. Why do boys get to do stuff and girls don't. That's not right.

Gramps says don't listen to anybody but me.

I'm gonna do stuff. I don't care how hard it is.

- - -
Here are more Gramps stories. There's more coming.

The Blind Side

I was hit on the blind side a couple or three weeks ago when I encountered Sandra Bullock's movie, The Blind Side (here's a link to the movie trailer).

Let's get this outa the way first ... hands down absolute best movie I've seen since the last best movie I've seen (and I can't remember it right now).

Sandra Bullock is one fine actress. The movie tho, isn't about the actors and actresses .. it grabs because of the story.

I was hit by the story itself.

My 14 year old daughter is the one who dragged me to the theater for this movie. I expected it to be interesting, maybe funny and mostly satisfying to have taken my daughter to something she wanted to see .. then I could, without as much guilt, go do mommy errands which she hates doing. Come on'... she's a teenager - and a girl to boot.

She hadn't asked me to take her to New Moon, the seductive vampire flick .. no, it was The Blind Side or nothing. Well, ok.

Smart girl, my daughter.

Let me tell you somethin'. The story is unbelievable. And it is true.

And what is remarkable - I didn't already know the story. That's fairly significant since it is a story about a young man who played football at Ole Miss.. and my entire ancestral and currently contemporary family relatives reside in Mississippi and most of them either 1) went to Ole Miss 2) graduated from Old Miss or 3) root for Ole Miss in the death 'til you part sense of the word.

Also, the family who took the young man in as their own son .. is from Memphis. The only other town in America that I know like my own home city of Birmingham.. is Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis has been the hub of all things 'citified' since I was a kid. It was the place in between grandmas .. one being in Mississippi and the other in Arkansas. All roads led to Memphis. Traveled to it, through it, around it, in it and from it. Memphis is one of the hubs of my childhood existence.

So, I didn't know this kid in the movie and real life was from Memphis. I didn't know he played at Ole Miss. I didn't know he did other things after that. I didn't know about the family who took him in. I didn't know any of it.

I was hit on the blind side. Here's Sandra being interviewed about the movie.

I'm from Ala Freakin' Bama

This post is dedicated to Bone, my lone fellow Bama blogger friend.

In Alabama, unless you've been to Mars the past few days, you know we ('we' - our university football team named after our state) played and WON the national championship game yersterdee night. Yes that's spelled like I like it.

What a game. And WHAT a song. If you don't at least hit play and listen to the first 50 seconds (give or take) of the below video (more important to listen not necessarily watch), you ain't got a hair on your arse -- and you sho don't and can't even commence to understand or truly know the inner soul of my entire existence.

I might not be the grandest Bama fan (although I was rootin' for 'em hard last nite).. I am definitely a spit shined southern gal from the way backs and sticks of Ala Freakin' Bama.

These is my people. Yes, again, that's the grammar I intended.

What's it to ya?!

High Five-in' Bone and smackin' my juicy fruit.

A book that costs nothing

More free books.. over at Moody Fiction's new blog.. I left a comment there this morning at 5:36 a.m.. hope they pick me. Did you enter?

I don't mind

How will they remember me.

Did I choose to love. Enough to leave a mark on things?

I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me.

But I want to leave a legacy.

Nichole Ellyse Nordeman so gets me.

Her lyrics are in my 'wheel house' as they say.

Take a listen: (I'm off to work now to pay for the legacy I may or may not be leaving).

Remember yesterday?

Remember yesterday? It was happy.

Gramps was here and Momma was funny and laughing all the time. She made Mexican salad. Daddy loves that stuff. He always adds so much pepper!! Garfield at the pepper.

I wish we lived close to Gramps. It would be so grand if I could walk to his house after school every day and get a hug and hear jokes. Momma would like it too. I know she would. I think she's lonely sometimes.

House is quiet now. Kinda down. Sad I guess. Daddy's working late. Momma's got a headache. I'm supposed to read these English essays and write all these stupid responses for homework. Don't want to. But .. I guess I will.

I hope Eric looks at me tomorrow. Why does he make me feel so happy. He's so funny and soooooo cute. I can't stand it sometimes.

When I grow up and marry somebody, I really hope it's somebody like Eric. I just don't think I could marry somebody who didn't give me that swooped off feeling. Maybe I'll just be by myself for a long time. It'd be better than living with a toad.

I'm never marrying a toad. I'm just gonna stay by myself I guess until somebody comes after me and swoops me off my feet. That's what Gramps tells me to do. He loves Grandma like that. That's what I'm gonna do.

Doing homework now.

- - -

I wrote the above diary letter to me this morning. I wrote it with my 15 year old voice of memory (slightly changing the characters to protect the innocent.. that's where you're supposed to giggle). It's in response to Nathan Bransford's contest today.. he's giving away the Secret Year - a book about a diary of a teen. He's choosing the best (he's the judge) teen diary entry.. you gotta enter it through his comments on his blog. Here's the link.

Maybe I'll win. Maybe I'll write more.

One thing's for sure - I don't have to do any more English homework. Oh, and Eric? He ended up being a toad. I didn't marry him.

Most accepting agents

Very interesting lists today (or was it yesterday) over at Query Tracker. Ever wonder what agents receive the most queries (according to query tracker) or what agents accept the most from queries?

Don't know about you, but I'd want to research those agents.

Prizes!

Suzette and Bethany are giving away stuf! Cool stuff too.. prizes include writing critiques and a book, The Dark Divine... ooooh intriguing.

Go see for yourself.

Nana goes to college

I didn't write this ... (follow the link)... but blogger Beach House in the Burbs did write it.

It's about her grandmother, 'Nana' - and it's about the time her Nana came to see her in college, and spent the night with her in the dorm.

You will love it. As you can guess, so did they.

I had a grandmother like that. And I loved her so.

- - -

This post is next in my series of a thousand posts to read before you die. Here are the other posts of thousands (ok - dozens).

Resolutions of the fresh variety

(Warning: This post contains "I" a lot.)

I could say ... I resolve to eat healthier this year. Or ... I resolve to exercise more this year. Or ... I resolve to be more organized this year.

Frankly, even typing those words make me nauseous.

Why? Because they're just words, and words mean something to me. I don't use them lightly and I don't like saying what I don't really mean. It's not because I don't want to do those things. It's more the feeling - I know me.

I know what I'm capable of. I know what my history is. I know my patterns. My resolve changes (and I want to continue to allow that to happen).

I might eat healthier for 7 weeks straight. I might exercise 13 days in a row. For another span of time (long, short, indifferent), I might resolve to do something else - like rest.

Don't we need more rest? I don't know about you, but I'm tired.

So, I believe that I shall resolve to relax more. Because when I say relax, that - my friends - is exactly what I fully intend to do.

And I would like to try to be a bit healthier. So, I shall endeavor to think about that some more.
Here's to fresh starts and peace of mind.

So let it be written. So let it be done - Yul Brynner a/k/a Pharaoh (I think).