The South

I'm a sleepybear.

Tennessee
I did a good job getting a hotel just a few blocks away from Beale Street in Memphis. I got there and took a nap, then took my hoop and camera down to Beale where I was enchanted by the sounds of the blues coming from every corner and every bar and club. Older black men gettin down and feelin the soul of this beautiful Memphis air. Everyone drinks outside on the street and most look like a bachelor party or a hot date is goin down.
Some man jumped in my video shot and asked to try two people in the hoop, which I humored until it wasn't all that amusing anymore. People of course stared and cheered and I got a few good clips.
I took my camera back to the room and changed my clothes so I could feel more clothed. After assurance that we were in the safest part of Memphis, I took a walk back downtown to explore and enjoy. My first encounter was with a large white weirdo man...the conversation went...

Le Weirdo: You're so gorrrrrgeous!
Le Me: Thank you.
Le Weirdo: Can I have your feet?
Le Me: What? No.
Le Weirdo: I'm good at massaging...here...
Le Me: No that's weird.
Le Weirdo: But I'm in love with you. Can I buy you a drink?
Le Me: You don't have to.
Le Weirdo: but I want to *hands me two 5 dollar bills* Marry me! I got moooooney.
I shook my head and he laughed and walked out of the place.

The next encounter was a very nice guy who asked me to dance so we did for half a song. He reminded me of Michael in his body, face, hispanic-ness, and speech. A cop from California. We talked about ourselves for a bit until he took his friends home as the DD.

I watched the big black men up on stage. They have something else to them. The rhinestones on their clothes and the way they take a saxophone or guitar solo...there's so much to them that makes your soul sing too. Nothin' like the blues.

I walked home thinking, "Well, Memphis, I'm impressed."

I woke up late (oops) and ran out to get to Graceland, where the line was much too long and I wasn't thrilled about paying $33 or more to go see the Mansion when they wouldn't let me take my hoop or tripod anyway. Boo.

Mississippi

It was hard, but I finally found a place to hoop which turned out to be the birthplace of Elvis. That was it for Mississippi. Except for the guy who kept calling me a Yankee in the rest stop. Thought I should explore more but I was trying to make good time which I didn't today.

Alabama

I found a park dedicated to Civil Rights stuff in Birmingham which made for good hooping and then a street with a big Alabama sign. Funny old black men called out things like "Look at that Hoo-lay-hoop!!!"

Georgia

It seemed I was never going to get to Liz's. Traffic stopped for some runaway police chase thing, and the rest of the highways were just ridiculous traffic cases. I finally made it and I'm sleeping on her comfy couch. This house is beautiful and the whole gigantic basement is furnished and is like a nice apartment for Liz (bedroom, bathroom, two living spaces with couches, piano, pool table, gigantic TV, and the best was when she wowed me by opening what seemed to be a drawer and it was a dishwasher, then another as a fridge and freezer, and it went on and on.)

Sleeptime.

Texarkana

Texarkana is the name of a real town, but I'm just titling to represent this triad of states I've trampled in these 3 days.

Texas

I went through Texas only sometimes happy. I hooped at Cadillac Ranch but stupid people kept standing in my shot after specifically watched me set up. Though the plan was to eat dinner at the big amazing steakhouse in Amarillo, I passed it by realizing I don't deserve it, and I've had that experience already anyway. I kept driving, singing and singing and singing. I sang a lot. Stuff I've studied in years past, random radio, CDs I've made and a CD G&G made me. At dark I decided to stop in Vernon, TX at a Days Inn. I slept well, considering I just watched the remake of the movie "Psycho" and the hotel was set up similarly. Showered and took advantage of included breakfast.

I was off at 8am, so excited to meet AJ. AJ is a dear friend of mine. We met in a chatroom when we were 10 and 11, wrote letters and kept in touch for all of those years, never losing the care and love we had for each other. He lives in Baton Rouge now but his home is Shreveport, LA and he changed his schedule to be with me. Anyway, he was still 6.5 hours away. I stopped and hooped in Dallas, TX at Main Street Garden. A homeless man made me feel good by saying things like "You sure make Dallas look a whole world better," and "When God mad you...sheesh..." Haha.

Louisiana

First thing I noticed was the transition from blah Texas to lush Louisiana was glorious.

Back to AJ time...
In search of a place to hoop, AJ took me down to a place called the Boardwalk which was like an outdoor mall with casinos and fun things surrounding. It was a hot sun and a hotter humidity, but still neat to see and I got to hoop by the river and a little more before we got yelled at by a security woman who took her job much too seriously.

We went to a local seafood-diner-place called Shane's for dinner with his mom where I had fried alligator and seafood gumbo.
We then went to his friend's place and hung out with Jordan, a tall friendly man, and Courtney, a small friendly lady with the cutest Southern accent ever, and I played some piano, had some outside in the GREEN GRASS time, and watched that weird guy cross the Grand Canyon by tightrope. Fun was had and I was so thankful to finally have time face-to-face with AJ. He's just how I imagined and more. What a good life-long friend...in Louisiana...

Arkansas

I drove North and hooped at the line between Arkansas and Louisiana, then continued and hooped at the Arkansas Arts Center. The haiku I wrote stated...

Humid disgusting.
Hooped with funny-looking birds.
Bye bye Little Rock.

I realize that the only reason I've chosen Memphis for this trip is because the song "Life is a Highway" includes "from Mozambique to those Memphis nights" and I want a Memphis night. A safe one. but a fun one.

Of course I try to plan to experience local food and authentic social life, but right now I'm in officially the worst Applebee's to ever exist. West Memphis, AR. Just wanted to pee and use the free WiFi. The hostess acted like she was high and didn't understand a word I said. The bathrooms look as though they have never been fixed or cleaned since the place was built. My waiter's wack. Everybody's looking at me like I'm the opposite of them. (I'm human too, peeps!)

Anyway...Memphis is real soon and I'm going to research for my "Memphis night."

I miss Grace and Gerard and Chris.

Here I go again on my own...

I'm off to see new states, people, and things.

The plan is to get to NJ the South route, come back the North. It'll be good to hoop, spend time with friends and family, and just get the travel bug out.

Life's been busy even though it's summer. Obviously I survived the year of teaching at Catholic School and really fell in love with the mass despite some rude and non-Christian behavior of some adults involved. I continued with some of my piano students into the summer and started taking on learning some things of my own like some drumming under rhythm master Steve, more "advanced" hooping, cleaning, and languages. I need this trip for spiritual cleansing, relaxation, and adventure.

I met a great girl named Regina from Venezuela and Chris from college is living with us for summer.

I've felt really close to Grace and Gerard and feel thankful for friends. They teach me so much. This is some of Gerard's progress on the house. He never stops creating!

So here I go again...

A Week in the Life of a Catholic School Music Teacher

Sunday - at least one mass. Sometimes 3. Currently it's an early mass, then Children's Choir rehearsal, then another mass (sometimes with the kids singing), then stalk the marimba practice at the Cathedral.

Monday - teach 4 classes, 2 duties, a ukulele lesson and 2 piano lessons, go to college choir practice which is boring and I'm not continuing it after the December 1st concert.

Tuesday - teach 4 classes, 1 duty, 1 meeting, choir practice after school til 4:30 plus transporting the marimbas to the church, RCIA (Catholic class) at night for 2 hrs.

Wednesday - direct Children's Mass, transport marimbas back, teach 3 classes, 1 duty, pull kids out of lunch for marimba practice, teach 3 piano lessons, go to church choir practice for 2 hrs. which I love

Thursday - teach 4 classes, 2 duties, 1 piano lesson, staff/group meeting, find something ridiculously fun to do.

Friday - teach 3 classes, 4 duties, Student Council meeting or staff meeting, sleep a lot.

Saturday - 1 piano lesson, pretend to clean and plan for the next week but get nowhere, sing at evening mass in church choir.

Insert prayer at every event. (yes, even at the end of recess duty). Insert mental lesson planning at every moment.

Repeat.


Side Note: Andie visited!

It's beautiful and it's hard. That's what she said. Just kidding. Not really kidding.

THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO. I know the lessons and choirs are my own choice but I need the money and singing. BUT THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO. Contact all these churches about scheduling and songs and caroling and gahhhh kids won't shut up.

Yesterday I felt extremely overwhelmed...what the h-e-double-hockey-sticks have I gotten myself into. A little more than 3 months ago, the big guy in the sky, his son, or his spirit had zero place in my life. Now it's constant.
I talked with a woman I respect very much at the All Souls mass last night. (yup, had mass Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday this week.) I was crying about the overwhelmingness of all of the "cult-like" ways of the church that made me very uncomfortable. She told me it was the devil on my shoulder telling me I don't need God, but she said God knows my heart even if I don't know Him.

Anyway...haven't exercised in a while. Blog fail.

My 1st 15K

Registered.
September 29th.
Albuquerque.
.
.
.
.
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What the crap am I thinking?

I'm ready to let the love in.

I feel bittersweet.

Life is beautiful right now...all I do is sing in church and sing and dance and make music with children. I love all 330 of my babies no matter how much they drive me nuts. The beautiful voices enchant me and the kindness I see each day from the staff and students warms me.
My spiritual life has done a 360 into another land. I was once an angry Atheist, and now, I am not Catholic, or even Christian, but I am spiritual. I am calm. I follow the Word of the Lord even if I do not believe it was actually said. I follow because I see and feel the beauty.
I am challenged every day to learn how to guide these young religious musicians. It is good to be challenged as long as I don't lose my mind.

Still, I feel bitter about life outside of my work. I can't keep my bedroom or car clean (no surprise, I know). I can't find the time to get info about insurance and all that grown-up stuff. I haven't cooked anything in weeks. I can't find what is important outside of my hymnal.
I know it's just because I'm alone, but it seems everybody else in the whole world is married, engaged, or having a baby. As ex's move on and boast about their bride, I can't help but think, "but it was supposed to be me." Michael will never call me his girlfriend. The ones that want me I don't want. This is not going to work. It makes me want to go into the woods and marry myself and never leave.

I want to love. I want to matter to someone above the age of 12. I want someone to say they see a future with me and actually mean it. I'm ready, world. Ok?

I don't know why my triathlon process is so slow. Improvements have been made in running, and I have learned to ride a bike which is a start. Swimming is easy for me, but still I should just pay the damn money and use the pool somewhere to practice. I feel I won't be happy unless I pick up the pace and just register for one so I have to do it.
Or else, this blog is crap.

The Color Run 2012

On August 25th, I woke up at 4 am, put on my new white beater and sports bra, and drove to Albuquerque to run in The Color Run: "the happiest 5k in the world." I got my packet right away and waited around. for 2 hrs. Since I got there so early, there was opportunity to get to the front of the race and start first. I thought..."hmmm...this will never happen again." (open seating), but then I was even more comforted when I noticed the obese people and children at the front with me. There were some "elite runners" to the left, so I stayed to the middle. The announcer threw frisbees and t-shirts at us while we waited and I admired the ocean of white shirts around me.

Around every kilometer mark, people stood ready with squirt bottles of corn starch color powder to throw at you. I put my arms up and danced and twirled and "woo"ed through the patches of color dust. I ran most of it, walked briskly a little. At the end there's a big color party where everyone gets a packet of color and we throw it into the air at the same time. Fun shit.

A few things to know before you do the color run:

1. White shirt dress code. But also make sure you wear a giant tutu or a fake mustache.

2. If you have a baby, put your temporary tattoo on his or her forehead and run the 5k with the baby in the stroller.

3. If you don't run thru the colors, you're lame. Just don't come.

4. If you're lame, you can cut across to the returning side before running all the way to halfway point. Then you don't have to run a whole 5k (what? just don't come).

5. This run is so noncompetitive that when you get the drink of water at the halfway point, you actually put your cup in a trash bag - you don't just keep running.

6. It's not a timed race because emphasis is on fun, so if you're going for a PR or you want to know, bring a watch.

7. If you see a girl sitting by herself drinking a water bottle after the race, go ask her to take a picture of you and your significant other. She has nothing better to do and really wants to take a picture of how you did this fun thing together.

Awesome.