A dear friend sent this video to me today. It made me feel good . . . even though I don’t know who half of these people are. Will.I.Am.? I typed his name on an invoice the other day but if he were sitting next to me at Houston’s would I know? Nope.

I really don’t care how The-Currently-Swollen-in-the-Face-Justin Timberlake votes, nor do I trust any celebrities like him to be informed on my behalf. I’ve got the facts down; I know that Barack Obama is the best available choice for our country right now.

The reason I’m posting this video is that I love the ethos of seeing artists stand up this way. They look and sound fabulous and they make me want to stand up on top of my desk and be counted among them - Oh Captain, My Captain, Obama, YES! . . . Obama! Obama!

I’m turning the comments off because this point is not up for discussion. Nor does it have to be. This blog is not a democracy; it’s my kingdom.

Last night while I slept, as I walked through my dream environment (a fictional Washington D.C.) doing my dream activities (visiting one of the lesser known Smithsonian museums - again, fictional - The Dutch Art Museum), I began composing a blog entry.  The Ruth in the dream thought about how she couldn’t wait to get home and blog all about every detail of the whole experience.  She planned to write, “If you’ve got 2 - no make it 3 - days in D.C., if you’ve already made time to see all of the other amazing sites on the Mall, on the 3rd day, visit the Dutch Art Museum.”

In the dream, there was an incredibly popular (read: crowded) exhibit by a contemporary artist.  I wanted to take time to enjoy the show, but first I needed to find a restroom. I had to go to the end of the meandering exhibit, navigating around the too slowly wandering tourists, to reach the ladies room. Once there, I was appalled to see that there were no stalls, just rows of toilets side by side as close together as movie seats.  I kept searching, row after row, to find an available clean place that would offer at least a little bit of privacy. It was exhausting.

Throughout the whole process, Dream Ruth mentally designed her next blog post. She chose this picture - the full gas tank - rationalizing that it would be a good shot to use because 90% of the experience was spent with a full bladder. Hmm. Oh-kay.  

The last several nights, I’ve had really tedious dreams. Work dreams. Ugh. And now this. Even on vacation in one of her favorite cities, Dream Ruth finds stressful situations. It’s been a relief to wake up. Which makes me realize how lucky I am. My sleeping hours have fatigued me into remembering that my real life is pretty fabulous.    

Take the full gas tank shot for example. I originally snapped it weeks ago, joyfully excited to share with everyone about how lucky I felt because Andy has made a habit of filling up the gas tank each time he takes the car out. The sweet part about this is that we are a one auto household.  Andy gets to work by bus and only drives the Jeep every other week or so when he goes to get fresh bagels on Saturday morning. Pretty fabulous, huh?  Pretty, pretty fabulous.   

We were here:

And now we’re back.

I can’t figure out why I don’t feel like blogging . . . why I don’t feel like telling you all about our Santa Fe adventure with family & friends . . . why I don’t feel like going back to publicly pondering all manner of random ideas . . . why I don’t feel like sharing with you my woes over the new slew of changes at work.  (Oh God can we get some stability ever again?) . . . Could it be that my fickle-serial hobbyist-ways have caught up with me and the on-line journal thing has lost its lure?  

I went for a walk in the heat on Saturday.  Did 2.25 miles with an average pace of 13:36 or something like that.  And yes I cheated by jogging about .2 of a mile just to knock my pace down a bit.  I do like sweating. Maybe that will be my new hobby.   

Headed out of town . . . will tell you all about it when I return next week.  

Team In Training Westside - Greater L.A. - Summer 2008

This is my team.
The men & women in these pictures , specifically these men and these women, have collectively raised $363,000 to care for people with cancer,
and to research a cure for cancer.
I’m really proud of these people.

p.s. iMovie beats cleaning the house!

FINALLY! Finally we have a candidate who I’m 100% unequivocally thrilled with. Finally we have a candidate who I believe can win. Finally we can move forward with the race we need to run. Finally I can cover up the tattered John Kerry bumper sticker on my Jeep. (Last campaign the Jeep carried a Wesley Clark sticker for months only to be covered eventually in defeat. This campaign I vowed to hold out for the final candidate.)    

On Saturday, I said to Andy, “Wow, it sounds like I may get to do my first marathon and have Obama officially seal the nomination all in one week. Awesome!” YES! 

Currently in the middle of a deadline at work, but will be sure to fill you in on the marathon soon. In the meantime, thanks for your support. I haven’t yet photographed the back of my marathon jersey (was too busy looking forward, I suppose) but it said, “Yes We Can!” Yes!

I had envisioned my last post before the marathon to be something philosophical about going the distance or the zen practice of being out there for hours walking (with no iPod). However, I guess somewhere along the way I became a real athlete because all I want to talk about this morning is my legs.

I realize it may be too late to be trying this - but I’m following coach’s orders. Thursday morning he said to me, “Try The Stick”, which led me to the super cool athlete at the Running Shoe Store, and the patient listener at the Physical Therapy (PT) Store both of whom told me it can’t hurt to get going on my very own foam roller. When I tried to buy the more expensive, “Stick”, from each of them they advised me to save my money and use a roller instead - because they see better results with the roller. Yes, I told them I’m cramming for an event on Sunday. No one advised me not to get rolling immediately. Yes, I’m taking it cautiously.

What’s a roller and what the hell does one do with it? We have some PTs on our team who already got us all acquainted with the idea. Did I pay attention that day? Of course not! Thank God for YouTube:
 

I started doing this rolling stretch in my office at work last night just to find out if my legs would feel okay 12 hours later.  So far so good.  I’m going to have one more go at it before I consider myself “inside marathon day”; even though, I guess I already am. . . 24 hours from now, I will be on the course!

The guy at the PT store also gave me a couple fanny pack size samples of BIOFREEZE. I tried it last night to make sure it didn’t have adverse effects. It’s good. Boy is it good. I googled & googled & couldn’t find any mention of it doing harm. Sounds like a common thing on marathon courses. It’s coming with me.

As I left the PT guy yesterday, he clenched his fists in front of his ribcage and offered this, “Be strong on Sunday.” It was the highlight of my day.

Off I go to be strong.

Okay, The Police were there, too. “When the world is running down, make the best of what’s still around.” A little too long to be etched on to the back of a marathon jersey, but the line sort of captures my “why” of doing 26.2 miles with Team In Training. Enough about that for the moment - I’m finally going to do a post about something other than the marathon. Ready?

Yes, we were at the Hollywood Bowl last night. Elvis Costello and the Imposters opened up for The Police.

• Elvis brought out some old hits, God bless him! I love that man.
• The Imposters (whoever they are) jam!
• Sting showed up for “Allison”. The two giants shared a mic. One slip and it would have been a love fest (tonsillectomy style). They were great together.
• The old Police songs are sounding a bit Stingafied and this really bummed Andy out. No edge. It’s like that feel good trailer for “The Shining”. Have you seen it? Sting sang “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” like a lounge singer impersonation of his younger self. And I don’t mean in a good way.
• The crowd back in “N” was for the most part, glued to their seats and staring straight ahead for 89% of the show. No, make that 96%. I can’t tell if it was the distance from the stage, or the crowd’s advanced age, or Sting’s lack of edge that mollified everyone. But mollified they were. It made me long for a younger show.
• Thank goodness for the sweet guy next to me who I had just met, who shared my energy & said, “Come on Girlfriend, let’s dance!”
• Regardless of the disappointments, “So Lonely” rocked better than 1979! Andy Summers stopped time and space in the best make me pogo and don’t let up guitar solo I’ve ever heard. (And I’ve been to 27 Grateful Dead shows). There are welts on the back of my calves from crashing into the bench. No exaggeration.
• Closing encore: “Next to you”. A personal favorite love song of mine. Yay!

Earlier in the night, as we made our way east on Sunset, we passed by The Keyclub, The Roxy and The Whiskey. Two of those venues had long lines of black and cherry haired kids out front. I didn’t catch the marquee to see who was worth the wait, but the fans were impossible to miss. Later, as we yawned to “Roxanne,” I told Andy, “In 20 years, whoever those kids are seeing will probably be playing on this very stage; I bet they’re getting a better show tonight.” As much as it hurts to admit that, I can’t help but suspect it’s the truth. I think I’m responding to the fact that there was no tribal unity last night. Too many CEOs out past their bedtime.

Today started with 8 easy miles walking w/ my new friend K, and our team.  It was our last practice together. Most of our mates wore costumes — funny, flourishing costumes. We had a good work out. Even though K’s got feet problems and god-knows-what is up with my knee (IT band?), we clocked in with an average pace of 15:02 minute miles. Not too shabby.  (If you’re new to this blog - I’d like to reiterate, we’re walkers, not runners.) Where was I? (Aside from being defensive?) Oh- 15:02 minute miles - and it was comfortable. Cake, really. I learned that Ibuprofen is a MIRACLE GODSEND. I felt the pain, but it wasn’t sharp.

Next, we listened to coaches tell us to trim our toenails early this week, proceed by eating salty chips and chicken noodle soup, getting plenty of sleep Wednesday thru Friday and being sure to keep our feet up “listening to music” or watching a movie in the hotel on Saturday afternoon. Rumor has it, coach Kevin has the low-down on how to use a hotel room coffee maker to make oatmeal (at 3am on race day) Sigh. Such is the life of a marathon athlete. Here. we. go.  

I came home to ice down the knee. Amazing thing - ice. Comfy 2 hour nap next to my beloved, followed by primping and heading out to see a WONDERFUL DOCUMENTARY: Up the Yangtze.    

Man, I was weeping. What a poignant, educational, and, yes - I agree with The Voice - brilliant movie. More on this later.

After the show, I limped - with pain - to a nearby izakaya, Sasaya, for dinner. Yuuuum, yuuum, yum, yum! The waiter helped point out lots of vegetarian delicacies for Andy.  I learned that sake must be an anti-inflamitory. My knee feels fully integrated and silent. Arigato. It’s all made sweeter by the fact that tomorrow is a holiday from work.  

In writing this, I just watched one of the trailers for “Up the Yangtze.”  It makes me feel so grateful.  Yeah, I’m happy to have my knee numb like I mentioned already, but much more than that: so. much. more. than that, I’m filled with awe and appreciation that I could be so lucky in this life. That I could be so rich. So rich. A man in the movie said that to be a human being is hard, but to be a “common person in China” is especially hard. He couldn’t stop from crying.  

I don’t want to forget how lucky I am today.