Like an unwelcome stranger
Doubt invades the mind
Possibilities...if I look
What else would I find
What are we even doing here
Is this classified as lost
If we all settle in
Can we accept the cost
Did you get caught in your own web
Did you try to get away
Were you running from yourself
Do you wish you would have stayed
Would anything have changed
Does the anger still define
Did you drive yourself away
Oh those demons of the mind
Monday, August 30, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
You'll Know
Breathe life into a stone
Make it feel not alone
When you can do this
You’ll know…
Smell the scent of her skin
Awaken her from within
When you can do this
You’ll know…
See the beauty in her eyes
Feed her mind your thoughtless lies
When you can do this
You’ll know…
Feel her body quiver
Memories that make you shiver
When you can do this
You’ll know…
Hear her tears falling down
Pounding loudly on the ground
When you can do this
You’ll know…
Make it feel not alone
When you can do this
You’ll know…
Smell the scent of her skin
Awaken her from within
When you can do this
You’ll know…
See the beauty in her eyes
Feed her mind your thoughtless lies
When you can do this
You’ll know…
Feel her body quiver
Memories that make you shiver
When you can do this
You’ll know…
Hear her tears falling down
Pounding loudly on the ground
When you can do this
You’ll know…
Friday, August 13, 2010
Whitewater Rafting
We went whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River which flows northwest through the Appalachian Mountains. The water flow on the river is controlled by the TVA or Tennessee Valley Authority through the use of three different dams. The middle Ocoee that we rafted is considered a Class III and IV.
Here's a photo of rafters in the Ocoee from online that shows what some of the rapids were like. Rafting down this river was a blast and the only thing I would have changed is the length of the trip. Two hours on the water just isn't nearly long enough.
Here's a photo of rafters in the Ocoee from online that shows what some of the rapids were like. Rafting down this river was a blast and the only thing I would have changed is the length of the trip. Two hours on the water just isn't nearly long enough.
All rafting down this river did was increase my love of whitewater rafting. This was my third rafting trip. The first one was in Ohio Pyle just south of Pittsburgh. The second trip was up at Harper's Ferry and now the Ocoee. I'd go anywhere, anytime...I love it that much! It is so exciting and this last river was surrounded by beautiful scenery and mountains. It was awesome.
Today we went over to Blairsville to visit friends and they tok us to the country club for lunch. Great food and a great way to end the trip. Back to the cabin to pack up and be ready to drive home tomorrow. This week sure went fast and I had such a nice time but I am also ready to be home.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N
Somehow it seems that I have landed back up in the Blue Ridge area for my 2010 vacation. So many things happened on my last vacation up in this area that being here and driving on many of the same roads and through the same towns has brought back many memories, but I've been having a great time making some new and great positive memories. This is a photo of the beautiful cabin that we rented outside of Blue Ridge. The view is incredible. It has 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a pool table, hot tub, and three fireplaces.
As soon as we checked out the cabin we ran back out to go get groceries. The guy at the fish counter says to me, "I know you." I'm thinking, "Yeah right." He says, "I worked with you in Naples." We figured it out. He recognized me from when I was 19 years old and worked at K-Mart on North Tamiami Trail. So crazy. After he told me who he was and I saw past the gray hair and glasses I couldn't believe it. Here was someone 10 or 11 hours from m home that I knew in 1982 when I first moved here. So absolutely crazy!
As soon as we checked out the cabin we ran back out to go get groceries. The guy at the fish counter says to me, "I know you." I'm thinking, "Yeah right." He says, "I worked with you in Naples." We figured it out. He recognized me from when I was 19 years old and worked at K-Mart on North Tamiami Trail. So crazy. After he told me who he was and I saw past the gray hair and glasses I couldn't believe it. Here was someone 10 or 11 hours from m home that I knew in 1982 when I first moved here. So absolutely crazy!
Sunday we went over to Chattanooga and visited some friends of mine that actually live in Flintstone, GA. It was great to share a glass of wine and catch up with their world. My friend has just received her doctorate and continues to be a professor at a college on Lookout Mountain. We also found the Chattanooga Market which is a large outdoor market with crafts and a big section was the farmer's market.
Yesterday we went horseback riding. This was a two hour trail ride and was awesome. The scenery was so beautiful. The guide even took us across fields trotting and galloping. It's been since my teen years since I have ridden a horse that fast. It was very exciting.
Today we drove to Sweetwater, TN to a place called The Lost Sea. It is the largest underground lake in North America covering about 4 1/2 acres and ranging up to 65 feet deep. It was down in a cave system and they even have boat rides around the lake and the rainbow trout come up to the surface as they throw food in the water. It was a really worthwhile excursion. So cool. Check out the website at thelostsea.com. It's definitely worth the experience.
A few more days to go on vacation and then back to work on Monday. Tomorrow I'll be whitewater rafting. I can't wait. It will be my third time going. I hope it is an exciting ride!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Back to Normal
My friend and I went to spinning class again yesterday...it was my second class. I loved it as much as the first day. Today though, my leg muscles are a little bit sore!
I was so excited this morning as we drove to the airport to pick up Tyler and Brianna from their North Carolina vacation. The house felt very empty for a solid week...strange. But they are home safe and that is all that matters! They had a great time riding intertubes down the river as well as behind a boat their dad borrowed. Mike and the kids drove back from Minnesota and spent the better part of the week with the kids hanging out and having fun up there. They went to a big waterfall and Brianna took tons of pictures that I can't wait to see.
This week gave me a feel for what life will be like when the kids move out and I have to admit I missed them so very much. I kind of can't even imagine them not being here.
Yesterday I went to see the movie Inception. If you haven't seen it yet...go. It is a mind boggler and that's all I'll say. Just the computer graphics alone make it worth watching.
Ah, the house is back to normal...what a good feeling this is!
I was so excited this morning as we drove to the airport to pick up Tyler and Brianna from their North Carolina vacation. The house felt very empty for a solid week...strange. But they are home safe and that is all that matters! They had a great time riding intertubes down the river as well as behind a boat their dad borrowed. Mike and the kids drove back from Minnesota and spent the better part of the week with the kids hanging out and having fun up there. They went to a big waterfall and Brianna took tons of pictures that I can't wait to see.
This week gave me a feel for what life will be like when the kids move out and I have to admit I missed them so very much. I kind of can't even imagine them not being here.
Yesterday I went to see the movie Inception. If you haven't seen it yet...go. It is a mind boggler and that's all I'll say. Just the computer graphics alone make it worth watching.
Ah, the house is back to normal...what a good feeling this is!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Spinning - Oh My
Well, this morning I got up bright and early and headed to my first spinning class. Let me just say that it was challenging both physically and mentally. I had a bite of breakfast prior to going and about ten minutes into the class I thought I was going to be sick. I talked to the instructor aftewards and she said to definitely eat prior to coming because you "can't drive on an empty tank."
We got there early and picked out our bikes and the instructor helped me get the seat to the right height, etc. The regular lights went out and then the black lights came on. The music started pounding and the peddling began. Fast, slow, stand up, sit down, position 1, position 2, and position 3. Seriously...ten minutes of this had me saying to myself, "You're going to throw up...you're going to throw up." Then I had to tell myself to stop talking that way to myself. Then I started saying, "You're NOT going to throw up." I slowed to a stop when the instructor yelled..."Don't stop peddling." I knew this wasn't cruelty being thrown across the room but rather for health reasons. If you are really exerting yourself and straining your muscles and then you just up and stop, your body can release lactic acid causing leg cramps so I kept peddling albeit a lot slower. A few minutes went by and I got my breath back and though at times it felt torturous at other times it was exhilerating and I couldn't believe I was actually doing it. The next thing I knew the instructor yelled...just two more songs. Wow, I couldn't believe I had made it through...this was incredible.
She mentioned when we first got there, not to judge spinning based on the first class but to come a couple times and then decide if you like it or not. I did really like it and have decided to go back again!
We got there early and picked out our bikes and the instructor helped me get the seat to the right height, etc. The regular lights went out and then the black lights came on. The music started pounding and the peddling began. Fast, slow, stand up, sit down, position 1, position 2, and position 3. Seriously...ten minutes of this had me saying to myself, "You're going to throw up...you're going to throw up." Then I had to tell myself to stop talking that way to myself. Then I started saying, "You're NOT going to throw up." I slowed to a stop when the instructor yelled..."Don't stop peddling." I knew this wasn't cruelty being thrown across the room but rather for health reasons. If you are really exerting yourself and straining your muscles and then you just up and stop, your body can release lactic acid causing leg cramps so I kept peddling albeit a lot slower. A few minutes went by and I got my breath back and though at times it felt torturous at other times it was exhilerating and I couldn't believe I was actually doing it. The next thing I knew the instructor yelled...just two more songs. Wow, I couldn't believe I had made it through...this was incredible.
She mentioned when we first got there, not to judge spinning based on the first class but to come a couple times and then decide if you like it or not. I did really like it and have decided to go back again!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Living Life in Reverse
Today I was reading some of my writings that I had printed, pulled down from my blog, and filed. They were writings from two years ago and were rife with pain and...well...more pain.
Some would say that our past makes us who we are today and I'm not sure I totally agree with that. Our past might help define who we've become but the reality of today is, we get to decide who we are. We aren't children being molded by our surroundings. We aren't slaves to a society of established norms that doesn't allow the freedom of expression.
Through a book I am reading I found myself posed with this question: Are you living your life in reverse?
You can interpret this question in as many different ways as there are people, but what the author of the book was referring to was "reliving" that same old pain over and over and over again.
This can be an easy thing to do...beat yourself up. The bottom line though is that this does no good. It doesn't change the past, and it won't change your future. You can try to numb yourself with any variety of things to make the pain go away but it won't work. The only way to make the pain go away is to feel it until you don't feel it anymore. Then you can finally look at yourself in the mirror and say, "It is done."
Some would say that our past makes us who we are today and I'm not sure I totally agree with that. Our past might help define who we've become but the reality of today is, we get to decide who we are. We aren't children being molded by our surroundings. We aren't slaves to a society of established norms that doesn't allow the freedom of expression.
Through a book I am reading I found myself posed with this question: Are you living your life in reverse?
You can interpret this question in as many different ways as there are people, but what the author of the book was referring to was "reliving" that same old pain over and over and over again.
This can be an easy thing to do...beat yourself up. The bottom line though is that this does no good. It doesn't change the past, and it won't change your future. You can try to numb yourself with any variety of things to make the pain go away but it won't work. The only way to make the pain go away is to feel it until you don't feel it anymore. Then you can finally look at yourself in the mirror and say, "It is done."
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