Joni

I think for any female growing up in the late 60's and early 70's Joni Mitchell was a touchstone. More for some than for others. I was one who knew of her, but really "found" her in the early 70's and never looked back. I sat down last night and did the Netflix "Roku" stream thing of "Woman Of Heart And Mind", a documentary on Mitchell's career. It uses interviews with her at different points in her career and appears to have had her cooperation, at least on some levels. It is, however, pretty blunt about some of her, shall we say, less popular choices. I'm thinking some of the jazz -influenced work and when she refused to be pigeon-holed into the "blonde hippie goddess" thing and broke out into experimental grooves-like "Hejira" and other work. Her pregnancy and choosing to give up her child for adoption are discussed and she comments on the "Little Green" saga-so her flaws aren't glossed over. It's a fairly revealing film and includes lots of concert footage I had not seen before and I count myself as a "Joni-phile". The conversations with Graham Nash are revealing and I had not seen him discuss her at any great length before. I didn't know what to expect of the film going in, but ended up entertained, intrigued and informed.

Ted Kennedy

It irks me when I hear people joke about the death of Ted Kennedy. He was a flawed human being, as we all are. His flaws turned fatal for Mary Jo Kopechne, so many years ago. Since then, it seems he turned his life toward public service, but even more so toward the service of those not so fortunate to come from a rich, powerful family.

The next time you or someone you love needs Cobra insurance coverage, thank Ted. When you see your daughters playing sports in school thank Ted Kennedy for Title 9. S-chip insurance for kids? Ted. There are many other pieces of legislation he was central to making law that touch our lives everyday. So the next time someone asks what all the fuss is about over the death of Ted Kennedy, you will know the truth. He truly was a politician interested in improving the lives of us, ordinary Americans. I wish more were like him.

DIving Lake Rawlings and Key West

I went diving this week at Lake Rawlings, a "scuba park" off I-85. It's south of here and about an hour away. I dove with my friend, Debi, who is a divemaster and with two other folks, both members of the Richmond Dive Club. It was lovely to be underwater again.

I find that I am still pretty lousy at setting up my equipment. That may be more a function of not doing it very often. Familiarity is something that will only come with time.

A trip to Key West in October is ahead. I'll try to get in a couple days of diving and hope to dive the USNS Vandenberg. The ship, recently sunk off KW, is now the world's second largest artificial reef. Really looking forward to that.

As I look forward, I think diving may be the thing that allows me to meet "like minded" people-a community, if you will. That can't be a bad thing. I am chasing my "bliss".

Wish me luck!

Got it....

The bike is mine. An '06 Yamaha 650 Classic. Sweet bike. Now, to be confident enough to ride it for hours on end. That may take some time. I am so constantly aware of what other people on the road are doing. I figure achieving some comfort level takes time. I am willing to wait for that to happen for me and to not let fear (of anything!) lead me and make my decisions for me. Keep your fingers-crossed for me!

This will be short! I did it. I passed the BRC and have my motorcycle license. It was super-challenging. One woman dropped out on the first day of riding on the range. Another didn't pass the 50 question exam. One guy dropped a bike during the test. That's an immediate "fail". They take the bike and escort you off the course. Another woman missed a required "gate" and didn't make it. I did ok-not perfect, mind you, but I made it. Add to the whole thing that is was in the mid-90's both days for the riding portion, which was 5 plus hours on asphalt and on a motorcycle. Add to that the required attire of long pants, boots, long sleeves, gloves and a helmet and you get the picture: HOT! Anyway-I decided to drink lots of water and try to ignore it. It worked. I will buy a bike, but figure I will spend a lot of time on empty parking lots just working on my skills. Just because I have the license doesn't make me ready for roads and traffic. That's gonna take some time. Wish me luck.

Saving Grace

There are so many things to praise about TNT's "Saving Grace", I hardly know where to start. I thought it might be a flash in the pan at first. The second season (just underway) proves me wrong. It remains compelling, thought-provoking and fun. Not preachy, but gets the point across about the serious topics of life and how we choose to live it. I can't recall the last tv series that made me feel this way and that might be because it's unlike any show before it. Holly Hunter's Grace character is so genuine and so perfectly flawed that you feel like she is part you and part people you know. It won't be back until June, which gives you time to catch up by watching last season and the two new episodes that just aired. I am not a big tv watcher, but this one has me hooked.

I live like a guy...

Amazing isn't it? My life revolves around work, gym, the Red Sox, books and art. Ok, so art isn't a real "guy" thing, but it just occurred to me that I live like a guy. What other woman (of a certain age) do you know who has just learned to scuba dive, is learning to ride a motorcycle, considering buying one and is booked for a weekend trip to Fenway? Not that there is anything wrong with that and I am not planning to change. It's just a bit of an epiphany. My comfort level is in the "simple" things that give me pleasure. I know this and it doesn't bother me now. I have spent too many years burying my true self and I think I am finally ready to stop doing that. I am now fully myself and, for maybe the first time ever, comfortable there. 

Another challenge

Here we go again. I have signed up with the DMV program to learn to ride a motorcycle. Wish me luck! I have been fascinated with bikes and always wondered if I would like to ride. Now I will find out. This is another thing on my "challenge" list. The class is a two day, intensive classroom and riding weekend. I can't wait. Maybe a bike for spring? We'll see. If I like it a Harley Sportster looks good to me. Fingers-crossed and hold on tight!

Diving and Belize

I did it: conquered my fear and am now a certified open water diver. I have two whopping post certification dives in my logbook and am on my way. It really feels good to have this new skill and to be able to look forward to "taking it places". I am already looking toward a possible diving trip to Saba early next year. Yes, I am looking that far forward.

The trip to Belize was bliss. The place is lovely and very "old" Caribbean. Very few cars, almost no paved roads and the people are incredibly open and welcoming. I will go back and may end up in Caye Caulker, which is even more remote and "unimproved".  The time spent with my sister was awesome and I think she enjoyed it too. All sorts of new experiences opening up for me. 

Belize

Headed out to Ambergris Caye. A trip to do my open water certification and spend some "down time" with my younger sister. Looking forward to disconnecting and just living without shoes and with no watch. No agenda sounds good to me. Ambergris is the place Madonna wrote about in the song "La Isla Bonita". I'll lift a bottle to you from a place in the sun.

Just a music box

I have a music box shaped like a piano. It belonged to my grandmother. My mother was also a great lover of music boxes. She died in 2004. Something odd happened last night and I have no explanation. The music box sits on the top of a highboy chest of drawers that was in my parent's home and once belonged to my grandmother. I brought the dresser and chest back to my home when my father died last year. I was reading in bed last night, when the music box began to play. Not like it was wound up fully. Just a half dozen notes and then it went silent. How do you explain that? It hasn't been wound in years. I can't remember the last time I wound it up. I just stared at it as it fell silent. It made me miss my parents all the more.

Enter-diving

On my way to being a certified scuba diver. So much to learn and such a big payoff. I am in class with 2 other women and a guy. I figure he will be my "buddy" for the water section of the class, as we were seated next to each other. We had to read aloud during a quiz portion last night and the guy has a very hard time. Words like "narcosis" became "nausea". I think he may be guessing. That would be scary if you were partnering with him in the open ocean. I wondered last night how people can "fake" reading for an entire life. He's not illiterate. He just has some real deficiencies in vocabulary. The instructor didn't say anything or correct him. I don't think that was because he didn't notice. 

I figured out last night that one reason I may really love this extreme sport is that it's very "gear intensive". Always cool things to dream of adding to your gear. You guessed it: I bought a new mask last night. I told myself the one I have is old. It is. :D

Ahhh....Roku

I admit it. I love this little gadget. If you haven't heard the "Roku" is the Netflix "Apple TV" thingy. It's $99 and it streams instant content from your Netflix queue right to your tv. I am using it with an S-Video cable and the picture is great. It will also do HD. Maybe the best thing about it is that Amazon is about to get onboard with on-demand content for the Roku. Yes, it will carry a cost. I am willing to go there, if the content is worth it. We'll see. As for the box, once you own it, it's yours and the Netflix stuff works as long as you have a dvd "unlimited" plan. So, if you get one DVD at a time "unlimited" you're there. How simple is that? Simple enough for me.

Not snow

Big anticipation here about possible snow or something like it. This morning, it might be a mix of snow and rain=slush. Much ado about nothing and that's how it usually plays out in Richmond. Growing up in western MD I always have to laugh about this. When I first came to R-town I drove a little Nissan Sentra and never had occasion to not be able to make it to work. Remember, I go to work at o-dark-thirty and many times roads are not fully treated when I am out the door. Now that so many people drive suv's you would think the anxiety would be less. Not. After some years of driving a 4 wheel drive jeep, I am back to driving a front wheel drive go-kart (Versa) and figure I will still be able to get to work. That is, unless we get a foot and the Nissan bottoms out!

New toy....

I ended up with an Ipod Touch. I went to Circuit City this week to see the "bargains". Not many of those yet. The discounts are 10%. The secret is when retailers decide to liquidate, they immediately bump prices to the msrp and begin discounting from there. It's not really a deal until about 25 to 30% kicks in. The one exception is Apple products (like my new Touch) which are almost never discounted. I spotted the display Touch (the last one in the store) and got it for an "open box" discounted price. A good deal. I really want it for the video capability, gaming and photo display. It's next to useless as an email gadget, as you need wi-fi for any updated information. I have also packed it with music and the 8 gb is twice the storage of the hand-me-down Nano that once belonged to my Dad. So, the new challenge is to figure out how everything works and see how it's best used. I'll keep you "posted". Pun intended.

Family...

Pretty happy that I will see my only nephew today. He is a great guy and training to be an Army helicopter pilot. His graduation is set now for March. It scares me to death that he will be in "harms way". I know it's what he wants, but can't help but consider "what if". The U.S. will be in Iraq and Afghanistan for some time, no matter the White House occupant. "W" got us into this and it will take time to get out. I say my prayers on this-all the time.

Two Books

I finished the new bio of John Lennon-"The Life"-by Philip Norman and "Soul Picnic" on the life of Laura Nyro. Two very different musicians. Both books were rigorously researched and lovingly written. Lennon became easier to like in his later years, though always talented. Nyro's path took her to less writing and recording and more focus on being a single mother. Both died way too young: Lennon at the hands of a crazed fan, Nyro from ovarian cancer. It makes me wonder what Nyro would have done in her later years, when her son would have been older and less demanding of her time. She really was doing some great work prior to her death and, from everyone quoted in the book, was a lovely and gentle soul. Lennon was going in a more gentle and less manic direction than some of the work he did right after the Beatles split up.  I recommend both books, if you are interested in musicians, music or pop culture.

Thoughts on adventure

More adventure is what I need. Heck, it's what everyone needs. I realized this when my Dad was dying of cancer last year. He was talking on the phone with his "black sheep" of the family older brother: Dad was 81. His brother 88. My father was always the responsible one: a salesman, living the suburban life and playing by the rules. His brother was the opposite: he worked at various jobs. Busted up his marriage by having affairs. Built my talented cousin her own painting studio and allowed her never to have to work a real job-she simply developed her painting talent. He rode motorcycles and built and flew small planes. He built a house in Alaska where he and his girlfriend flew in and out on a float plane he built. You get the idea. My father says to his brother, "... in many ways brother, you have outlived me". I was floored and a lightbulb went off. It's not how long you live, but how you live. At that point I knew I had to put together my own "bucket list" full of things I wanted to do NOW! So, here we go. I am learning to dive in February and will do my open water qualification dives in Belize. I am going to sail with my sister and brother-in-law on their 42 foot sail boat in March and am looking to buy a 4x4 to throw a kayak in the back and head to the river.  What my father said rings in my ears. I need to let that inform my life going forward.