I finally got back to Austin. Oh it feels good to be back. I got really bored in Dallas. When Al and my mom went back to work on Wednesday, the boredom began. Of all people, I hung out with Brook (from Austin) in Dallas. Thank God for Brook.
It was freezing in the house too. I found out that they had the temp set at 63. So I went out to the mall to walk around. I can't stand malls, but it was warmer indoors there. So highlights . . .
Surf's Up - funny movie about surfer penguins, underrated so it was fun to watch
My cousin Jessica telling me that I was her favorite cousin (compared to Alex)
HD Videos of my niece - very cute especially as she "danced"
Rolls at Spring Creek BBQ (and unlimited veggies)
Finished a book - lots to chew on and think about, challenging enough to make me think about what action looks like
I've been putting in some good hours for work. It's been fun though. Getting to see things come together. Last week was work followed up by driving to Houston for Peter and Grace's wedding. Hanging out with various people as well. Followed up by an interesting church service on Sunday (never been to a Presbyterian church). After that came an amazing dessert in Ruggle's white chocolate bread pudding. Then, I drove back to Austin to watch the Tsang boys for the nite.
It has been awhile since I watched the guys. Kev, Evan, and a slew of other people in East Austin had been taking the reigns for awhile. Noah was still Noah . . . funny little guy. We're at the table eating dinner.
Noah: Bri, I don't feel so good.
Me: What's wrong? What doesn't feel good?
Noah: My tummy hurts . . .
*fart*
Noah: Oh. Ok. I feel better
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The wedding was cool. For not really knowing each other all that well, the groomsmen and I had a lot of fun joking around. We added our own personality to things - the reception dance, the rehearsal and subbing in groomsmen with paper bags. Nothing like a chinese banquet to fill you up.
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So the church experience. I've heard but never fully understood what was meant by a liturgical church until Sunday. I am used to a "say hi to the people around you" but there was a "peace be with you" handshake that literally everyone goes around to everyone. There was a Glori Patri thing too that everyone seemed to recite. Good thing words were printed in their bulletin. I got the pleasure of hearing their guest speaker too - dude from Cameroon.
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So really good time hanging out with Monica and Gary. They're the kind of friends that when you connect, you can be really honest. No measuring up and having to tell a story of how something's new and exciting in your life . . . because usually there isn't that much. But what was definitely amazing was getting to see some of Monica's art projects. She had to design stuff for Saving Private Ryan - posters, press kit, freebies goodies, a record cover and inside materials, and various other memorabilia. It was some of the most amazing stuff I've seen. The color schemes, texture, and just overall creative ideas.
Ruggles was an amazing experience. Forget Chinatown. Ruggles will be on my list of places to hit whenever I swing through Houston. The Tres Leches also looked good. Makes me hungry . . .
Last nite was my last nite as the manager at Lohman's Crossing. The first store that I was actually the store manager. It was a lot harder to leave than I thought. I had that store right where I had wanted it. The staff was just right. We were clicking. The phone calls had died down. They were taking care of the issues and each other. I had put a lot of time into that store - the people, the customers, the weird stories. I am truly going to miss that team.
I was touched that they got me a cake. We had a nice group picture as well. Just as parents tell me that they learn a lot from their kids, I learned a lot from those partners. One had written a note for me about how she has learned a lot and how she's grown in my 8 months there. The journey we took as a store was full of bumps, hills, and valleys - and it was a joy to do together.
The easy route would have been to stay there and coast, but that's not me. There's that constant drive for more, new, and deeper challenges. The Cedar Park store has a lot of great people and a lot of opportunity for growth, but Lohman's will always be my 1st store. I'll always be proud of them. As I left, the last month's customer voice results had come in. We had beaten all our goals from the last month and even topped the avg scores of the top 10% of stores in the company. The team has been amazing. It felt like a wonderful dysfunctional family whose hearts had been stretched.
I think back to the interviews I had with each person there. I think back to the stupid laughs we've had together. I think about the times where we just sat at the outdoor chairs and chatted while looking out into the parking lot. They are truly beautiful people with big hearts. I love how they wore their emotions on their faces and extended care to others. I've loved seeing them fall in love with our customers - our old cute retired customers. I've loved seeing the really elderly couples come in slowly and get their same drinks.
As I wrote thank you cards out to each partner, I really was overwhelmed with a sense of pride and thanksgiving. I am reminded of what I love doing and what I get the priviledge to do - to care of others and teach them to take care of others as well.
I have some nasty headaches accompanied with dizziness these last few weeks. So I've changed things up a little. I stopped going to the gym for a bit. I changed my diet a little. In a span of a few days, I downed an entire bag of grapefruit. I took some more time off by going to Dallas.
I went to the doctor to get checked out. Maybe tension headaches. I went back after my bloodwork got processed. Everything was in check. But there were some interesting findings.
1. My cholesterol is even lower than it was a few years ago - 161 down from 182
2. I have naturally high creatine levels.
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Aside from Thanksgiving actually having its origins in a cocky human "manifest destiny" genocide of the American Indians, I like the holiday. Instead of being about the me me me - give me XYZ (i.e. Christmas), I think Thanksgiving culturally has been a time about bringing people together - togetherness - ombatu - was that the word that the Celtics are using? It's a time that I "count my blessings." There are several people that I am thankful for. At work, I have hired quite a few people over the last few months, and with that comes this role of a coach. I'm really proud of the how people have stepped up. I love watching the human connection happen between people. When the light clicks . . . not the light about how to make drinks, but the light that the job and life is more about people than about how to make a latte.
I spent some time with Mary and Rhonda today. It was exciting talking about the Cheer Party - going to have some choirs coming, a 9 yr old harp player, lots of children's art. It's going to be exciting, and it's going to be about going back to the core - the people.
There are certain luxuries in life. For some it's a cruise or owning a boat. Others it's certain kinds of food - caviar, sushi, snails, etc. A lot depends where you are, where you grow up - running water is considered a luxury to others. Some that I have grown very fond of - toilets, running water, and food.
Years ago people believed that we as a civilization were being punished for our greater society sins with disease such as AIDS and cancer. But it also depended on what kind of cancer. People who have lung cancer are looked down upon for smoking habits. Skin cancer is an interesting one because some are blamed for their tanning salon habits - other people just work/play in the sun a lot.
The most interesting "punishment" I have seen in recent years comes in the form of allergies. Allergies that were never a major issue until most establishments catered particular lines to people with restrictions. In particular food allergies. Gen went to a doctor a few days ago. Poor girl, being poked and pricked through various tests. Heard she cried the entire time. My little girl is just a little older than 1, and she supposedly is allergic to several wonders - eggs, peanuts, and seafood at the minimum. Peanuts and eggs pretty much take out all baked goods. I would never wish anything like a food allergy even on my worst enemy.
I can't provide cookies, cakes, cupcakes, brownies or most sweets for my niece. So I will resort to my strength - meats. Nothing but the best meats to celebrate a good meal for my niece. Nothing but the best for my girl - extra moist, nice marbling, juicy enough to inhale . . .
A few weeks ago, a bunch of guys were playing football near the IM fields. I was sharing with a friend that the IM fields mean something different to me. For some, it's about playing IM football, championship t-shirts, etc. It's different for me. It reminded me of mile 21 in my marathon. I was lucky enough to have Harmon, Jen, and Enoch there cheering me on.
As the weather has cooled down, I brought out some warmer clothes. I reached into my small "to go" bag - beanie, gloves, scarf. It wasn't cold enough to warrant any of those, but it brought back memories. Cold, crisp mornings. Mornings where I wish I bundled up more, but as they tell you in running - you always dress a little light because once you're going, you'll feel like it's 20 degrees warmer. So 50 degrees is wonderful running weather. I remember several early mornings where you were shivering in place, seeing your breathe in the air, feeling in the fingers numb. Just trying to make it to the next mile marker.
I have some "angry" music on my iPod (lately System of a Down), but it's not always good for running. It gets you too excited. I haven't figured out the good mellow music yet. Trying to figure out what's got a good pace but it's not so mellow that you're going to become singing some sappy love song.
Instead of just helping out a home plate for the Miracle league, I was invited to be a buddy. A bunch of kids had the PSAT's this morning, so I put on a Buddy T-shirt and jumped into the action. I was paired with Megan on the White Sox. She was one happy girl that was contagious.
Megan had her cap on backwards. She liked to just sit on the ground and pick at the sand/soft ground. Megan would never talk much or make out real words, but she had this awesome smile. When my district manager walked up to say hi to me, Megan just ran up and gave her a hug. She ran with this "happy" energy. Every once and awhile she would turn her little blue eyes and me and just smile and laugh - poking my nose and giggling.
This sounds weird to say, but there's this thing about kids with down syndrome that have a soft place for me. The big eyes and soft smile. I remember talking to a friend years ago. I told him that I'm such a productive/efficiency person that I would have a hard time dealing with people that have chronic illnesses, etc. Things have changed. Those are the people that remind me so much about the right perspective in life.
Megan could just sit there on the ground the entire time. She could just walk hand in hand with me the entire hour too. The complicated things of life - taxes, social security, food on the table, running water, electricity, a/c . . . those just don't matter when you're around people like Megan. The simplicity of the "Chicken Dance" song brings this joy to the soul. It doesn't matter how you look or what you can do - you're just caught up in the moment of bringing joy to the kid.
A few weeks ago, I was working through that verse Gid talked about. God taking great delight. I felt like I got a piece of that. Sometimes I get stuck up on Jesus having great compassion on people - and it seems like a task at hand - you gotta take the time and deal with the tough stuff. But the great delight - the desire to just be there with the kids. It's a beautiful thing.
Hard lessons:
The stomach flu can have an incubation period of 3 days - it can hit you in 4 hrs or 3 days.
The sausage and peppers sauce at Olive Garden is like the meat sauce except you add peppers (detracting from the meat).
Just because you eat right and take a nap does not mean that you'll feel better immediately.
Airbourne is disgusting.
Volunteering means nothing without relationship.
Knowing that food is flavorful but not being able to taste it is torture.
We usually all know what is wrong and what we can't do, but the difference comes in those that believe in focusing on what we can do.
I've had some rough weeks mentally and physically. Due to a few family emergencies that happened to some of my partners, I had to a 15 hr work day on Friday. This meant I would start around 7:45am at work to 11:30pm. Followed up by a 5:30am start the next morning, 5 hrs of volunteering outdoors, and more.
Sometimes you can feel worn down and alone. You get up and leave for work before people are up. You get back after everyone has gone down. Your conversations are left to e-mails and the half chance someone is on AIM - all while you're mind if half there.
But things all changed at 11:50pm on Friday. The Lou family had offered me to be able to stay at their place instead of driving all the way home. This saved a lot of driving and a lot of gas. But as I walked into the room that I'd be staying in, I saw this on the nightstand. A very welcoming note with a picture album of Philip (whom I call the Miracle Baby).
Side note: Philip represents a lot to me. An answer to prayer. A perseverant cute little guy that reminds me that God cares about people. Yeah, I know that He cares about people, but Philip was a special guy that came with a lot of celebration.
Anyways, that nite I slept well. I had a great day at work. I had a really fun time volunteering with the children of the Miracle League. I got to help the batters at home plate. I got to cheer on kids as they scored. It was kind of hot. I was kind of exhausted, but I was fueled on pure adrenaline. There's something really precious about the smile, laughter, dancing, and joy of children with "disabilities." I've seen these kids grow up. I was telling my friend Susan that Ben looked physically a lot thinner, but his spirit looked brighter and bigger than ever. My favorite little guy John ran with such energy for a little 3 foot guy. I loved watching the kids dance to the Chicken Dance and just get to enjoy themselves. Another wonderful reminder of God's goodness among us.
My day ended with the Pecan Street Festival, volunteering at ARCH, and then staying at the Lou's the house/baby watch while they went out to a birthday party. I was thankful for the opportunity to be able to serve the Lou family who where the catalyst for a wonderful day of perspective - giving me the eyes to see joy in the tough times, stirring the soul to overjoyed at the simplicity of life. And it all started with a kind note and a picture of the Miracle Baby. Special thanks to the most generous family I know.
When things get tough, some people cry. Some people suck it up and press through. I'm the latter of the two, but man, I do need rest. I've learned more since the marathon what mental toughness meant as well as mental fatique. As sad as it sounds, I think I find myself more mentally tired than physically. My body still makes me wake up no later than sunrise.
Although I enjoy watching football, Heroes, and How I Met Your Mother, it's completely mush to me. Decompressing to the mundane that I don't have to think about.
Don't get me wrong, God is good. I've had some awesome interviews with people. I have had some awesome people that have told me that they specifically want to work for me. But I feel really tired. All my vacation time has been for weddings, and I realize that I need a vacation time just for me. Weddings are great and meeting people I haven't seen in awhile, but there's something different about the simplicity of life.
I'm looking forward to this weekend. Miracle League kids. Pecan Street Festival with a few friends, and capping things off with ARCH. Sure there are things to be done, but there's something that feels more authentic . . . more real. A restful time with some good friends. A little cheering on. A few nice leisurely walks accompanied with kettle corn, turkey legs, and funnel cake.
