Years gone by

It's been a few years since I left you. Let's see, what's new. I'm married to a beautiful, smart, and driven woman. Her name is Laché, ad she rocks the socks. Life with her has made me feel truly alive. We were together for 5 years before getting hitched. I can say that being married is not easy, but its not as hard as not being married! I love my wife. She has grown so much in just the few months that we have been married. Really proud. We will do big things together.
I am in my second year teaching physical education in Oakland, Ca. The Bay Area is a very nice place to be at this point I my life. I have finally started surfing after 10 years of California livin'. My friends out here are few, but good friends none the least.
My family is doing well. Nzingah, my older sister, and her husband Phillip had their first child.
My brother Che finally moved out the house after accepting a new job in Maryland. I am so incredibly happy for him to be on his own doing new things. He was reluctant at first, but now he seems to really be enjoying himself.
My younger sister Joy will be finishing her law degree in 2 months. Can't believe she will be a lawyer! No matter what comes next for her I know she will be ready.
My son Bayano is now 7 years old! He has gone from Elmo, to Thomas the tank engine, to Mario. Can't say I'm mad. Dad will play some Mario. I am very proud of him. His reading skills are rapidly improving, but his math is off the charts! He actually enjoys the stuff! He is the star soccer player on his team, and is now in a basketball league. He is a giant. I forget he is only 7 at times.
My mum is to busy. The rare times she is at home she is probably doing yoga, in her bike, gardening, or learning something I should be learning. When not at home she is out getting stamps on her passport. I swear if she post one more beachfront view from her hotel room...
Sadly, my father passed away in September 2010. His heart have out on him after he gave so much of it to all of us.
Now. I said earlier that I was married now right? Well here is the thing. My wife is currently all the way across the country in South Carolina. What is she doing there you ask? She is being awesome of course. Actually, she is coaching at South Carolina State University. It's her first division 1 coaching job!
Iur dog Ippo had surgery in his leg, and finally after months of limping around he can run and play.
Oh! I tried to go to the Olympics for a third time last year. I trained all fall and spring only to get sidelined by a ruptured disk after my first track meet. What a rip. maybe 2016?

What I want

I want to be a firefighter. There, its written down now.

Cars

I love to drive. Its hard for me to put the feeling of tackling a mountain pass, hunting down Ferrari's and sports bikes. The feeling of the engine vibrating as the revolutions climb higher and higher. The purity and focus it takes to put yourself in the moment. Racing towards each corner like a kamikaze on a mission. No fear. The feeling only comes from a place of total comfort. When the vehicle moves as if it your own hands and feet.

There is no actual conscious thinking. It's like a dance with me leading my partner with my hands and feet. It is sublime! All my senses are on high alert. The smell of the brake pads, the squeals of resistance from the tires, my eyes searching for the ideal line.

I do enjoy the car!

RESPECT

Do we as a society still try to earn each others respect? It does not seem that way anymore. In my childhood it started with the respect of the parents.

Our parents as fearful and dominating as they were still had to earn our respect. As a baby we cry out when we need something. Our parents were serving our every needs, but there comes a time when as a parent the "law" is laid down. As a parent of a sly child I know these test very well. A child will try to hold on to that notion that you are there to serve them as long as they can. It is not until the parent lets the child know that they are in charge that the respect is earned. This is evident in the many "spoiled" children today. Their parents thought they could buy there respect with gifts. Those same parents only made it harder for those kids to respect not only others, but themselves as well.

Fast forward to a independent adult. What do we respect? Money? Fame? Power? Morals? I have found that the best way to earn the respect of others is to simply be yourself in totality. You can not waver from who you truly are. For instance, you are 28yr old stock broker from Maryland at a reggae fest. Knowing nothing about reggae and its roots he acts according to what he has seen on TV. Now this guy how potentially has much to offer is instead acting as someone else. You don't always have to fit in to get respect. You just have to fit.

Think about our leaders who have failed us because we thought they misrepresented themselves. Now think about leaders who faced adversity and near certain failure, but soldered on.

Stubborn

Main Entry: stub·born
Pronunciation: \ˈstə-bərn\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English stibourne, stuborn
Date: 14th century
1 a (1) : unreasonably or perversely unyielding : mulish (2) : justifiably unyielding : resolute b : suggestive or typical of a strong stubborn nature
2 : performed or carried on in an unyielding, obstinate, or persistent manner
3 : difficult to handle, manage, or treat
4 : lasting
synonyms see obstinate
— stub·born·ly adverb
— stub·born·ness \-bər(n)-nəs\ noun

Calves Hurt

O. Man My Calves hurt something fierce! How is it that I can run for 20 years and still have weak calves?

Still HereStill here working.

Still hanging around in Santa Monica. I started training again. I don't know if I did because I miss it or if I just needed something to do. I miss traveling to the meets and competing, but I also would like to have a nice job and security. I have a job I that I am not fond of like most people, but at least I can enjoy the running, until I find the job that I would enjoy doing.