Song Lyrics

A good evening out with friends tonight, but I come home to another one of 'those moods'. Funny how a song can trigger an emotion or mood or memory.

My friend, my companion, my lover, my harbor...he's out there somewhere. Are you thinking about me too? At this moment in your life I wonder if you're wishing for and thinking the same things.

Soon our paths will cross. And when it does, I promise to be that soft place for you to fall, a loyal and faithful life companion, and the one to journey with you through all the moments in life that most would call ordinary, but ones that we'd call precious miracles. :-)

Soon.

*Sigh*

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I Will Be Here
by Steven Curtis Chapman

Tomorrow morning if you wake up
And the sun does not appear
I, I will be here
If in the dark
We lose sight of love
Hold my hand and have no fear
‘Cause I, I will be here

I will be here
When you feel like being quiet
When you need to speak your mind
I will listen
And I will be here
When the laughter turns to cryin
’Through the winning, losing and trying
We’ll be together
‘Cause I will be here

Tomorrow morning if you wake up
And the future is unclear
I, I will be here
As sure as seasons were made for change
Our lifetimes were made for these years
So I, I will be here

I will be here
So you can cry on my shoulder
When the mirror tells us we’re older
I will hold you
And I will be here
To watch you grow in beauty
And tell you all the things
You mean to me
I will be here

I will be true
To the promise I have made
To you and to the One
Who gave you to me

Just as sure as seasons were made for change
Our lifetimes were made for these years
So I, I will be here
We’ll be together
‘Cause I will be here
I will be here

I Have to Pack!!

Buongiorno!

2 days to go and then I'm off on the first part of my trip!

I just checked the forecast and it's looking bleak. DC and NYC are both in the mid 40's, with possible freezing rain on the days we'll be there. Then Rome, Venice, and Florence are also around 50F with rain as well. *sigh*. Just last week I checked and while I wasn't happy with Rome weather (~40F), the rest of the cities looked ok (~75F). This sudden change in forecast is not helping me with the packing situation. What the heck is freezing rain, anyway? :P

Winter travel is much more cumbersome, having to lug coats and having less room in suitcases because of bulky sweaters and such. My friends and I plan to check out the nightlife in Italy, but in 30 degree weather? Puhlease. It will be fun, I'm sure, and something to talk about later, but it's hard to think about looking cute when you're running in the rain in heels in freezing temperatures, and you ladies know how our cutest outfits aren't always the most practical! :P

Anyway, it just occurred to me that we might get to see some holiday festivities in Italy while we're there, so I'm really looking forward to experiencing a bit of that, especially in a city where their history and faith are central to their outlook on life.

I'm finally starting to get excited, although I'm not letting myself get TOO excited. I think I overhyped my last trip to Europe to the point where I was very disappointed with some of the places I went to, but then again, I went with an ex and the funniest thing after that trip was realizing the best time I had while in Europe was when he got sick and my gal pal and I went off to explore the Irish countryside without him. Needless to say, we are no longer together. That's definitely one of the relationships I don't care about anymore. I do hope he's doing well and all, and perhaps those lessons I learned while I was with him were necessary and helped shape me, but thank goodness he's not in my life anymore. I can't imagine he'd have the ability to make me, or anyone for that matter, happy over the long haul. And no, I'm not saying that from a place of resentment. I'll elaborate on this in a future blog, I'm sure.

Oh. I think I just digressed. Where was I? Oh. I have to pack! Yikes!

Ten things I have to do before I leave on Monday morning (in no particular order):

1. Send copy of itinerary/hotel info, etc. to sis/bro. It's always a good habit to let someone know where you'll be at!

2. Make copies of important documents. It's always a good idea when travelling overseas to do so, especially when travelling to Italy where pickpockets are abound.

3. Finish up a part transfer at work.

4. Upload pics from my camera and clear up space on the flashcard.

5. Pick up cheese and a banana for my pre-run breakfast tomorrow morning.

6. Go on my 9 mile run on Sunday.

7. Clip my toe nails. Yeah, I know. Too much information. :P

8. Send directions to my place to the person giving me a ride to the airport on Monday morning.

9. Send an email/itinerary to my friend picking me up when I return.

10. Read up a bit on Italy and make note of simple phrases.

Ok. I'm gonna get started on this list now.

Arrivederci! A presto! :-)

Living in Teepees

I sat here for a long while wanting to post, but not knowing what to post. The creative juices weren't flowing, nor was there much analyzing going on up there.

So I sit here and watch Dave Letterman. Senator John McCain was on and I got excited for a moment. He hails from my home state of Arizona and while I am not one to get particularly excited about politics, I think he's got solid character and I admire him for it. He's coming out with a new book called, "Character is Destiny: Inspiring Stories Every Young Person Should Know and Every Adult Should Remember". It sounds like an interesting book I'd like to check out. My first thought was that perhaps it would make a good Christmas gift for my nephew. I miss my little buddy SO much! :-) Anyway, find out more about the book at: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375728426

Then some actress comes on who is plugging her show, "Threshold". She talks about having kidney surgey of some sort when she was 4 years old, living in a teepee and bathing in a river in Paradise, California in the 1970s, and going to New York at age 13 and modeling for Elite Petite. This got me to thinking about the crazy paths we all take in life and how everyone has a story to tell and experiences that made them who they are.

Whether it's Senator McCain and his time as a prisoner of war, or this actress who lived in a teepee and bathed in a river, or whether it's a gal who was born in Arizona to Asian immigrant parents and who grew up on authentic mexican salsa, native american fry bread, and chinese dim sum. These stories make us who we are and we are not to take our history lightly. Embrace each person as you see them NOW, but always allow room for their story to unfold.

Blessings to all. Sweet dreams and good night!