The Last Dance

Driving home late today I heard the song below and it gave me a couple of ideas for stories to write about. Don't have time now so I am dropping this in to serve as a placeholder.

Save the Last Dance for Me
The Drifters

"You can dance
Every dance with the girl who gives you the eye
Let her hold you tight
You can smile
Every smile for the girl who'd like to treat you right
'Neath the pale moonlight
But don't forget who's takin you home
And in who's arms you're gonna be
Oh, darlin' save the last dance for me

Oh I know
That the music's fine like sparklin' wine
Go and have your fun
Dance and sing
But while we're apart don't give your heart to anyone
And don't forget who's takin' you home
And in who's arms you're gonna be
Oh, darlin', save the last dance for me

You can dance
Go and carry on till the night is gone
And it's time to go
If she asks
If you're all alone, can she take you home
You must tell her no

And don't forget who's takin' you home
And in who's arms you're gonna be
Oh, darlin', save the last dance for me
And don't forget who's takin' you home
And in who's arms you're gonna be
Oh, darlin', save the last dance for me"

Desiderata


Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.
© Max Ehrmann 1927

A Baseball Bat Would Be Better

Been one of those Mondays where you wonder if it wouldn't be better to grab a Louisville Slugger and beat yourself with it because your day would end sooner and you'd be less aware of the shards of glass that Monday has been shoving up your rear end.

Fortunately this is all an exaggeration but it has been as challenging and difficult a day as I have had in a while.

Maybe you are better off reading one of these:

Kids Who Don't Keep Their Hands To Themselves

My son has been having an issue with another kid at school. All week long I have heard that this boy has been chasing him around the school.

A couple of days ago it progressed to the point where the other kid was pulling his arms behind his back but I didn't do anything because it wasn't clear if it was just general horseplay with boys. When I was in 8th grade there was a lot of that.

And when I was in 8th grade the worst thing that could have happened was for my father to get involved in a disagreement with another kid. That would have unleashed all sorts of issues.

Today the other kid had my son in a headlock and refused to let go. It took an elbow from my son for this kid to release him.

My son came home angry and upset, concerned that he would be in trouble. I was breathing fire and spitting blood because this other boy put his hands on my kid.

I found the email address for his father and I sent him a note asking for him to intervene. I told him Ia am sure this is just a misunderstanding but made it clear his kid can't grab mine. And made sure he knows my son has been instructed to defend himself.

If he asks the other boy to let go and he doesn't, well I want this kid to reap the rewards of not listening. It should not have to come to that. I don't want to see it get physical but this kid crossed the line and I won't have it.

He is not allowed to put his hands on my son. If he can't understand and respect that we'll take steps to see that he does,

Lack Of Sense

Got five minutes to write down a few thoughts. Kids are making me crazy tonight, I love them but sometimes they just know how to press our buttons.

Been reading and listening to the thoughts about the NFL and it is making me a bit crazy too. Not defending the actions of people who break the law but not going to go hysterical about it either.

Why?

Because I like asking what causes the issues we see and what can we do about it. When I see data that suggests that the rates for certain actions are lower in the NFL than the general public I want to know why we don't focus on both areas.

The players who cross those lines need to be held accountable but stop with the ridiculous double standards and comments about role models as being the reason why we need to focus more strongly upon them.

If the numbers are accurate we have a real problem with the general public which is a much larger group than the few who can play. How do we change that. What can we do to improve, fix and facilitate things there.

Why aren't we spending more time focusing on helping more people.

The Sweetest Sleep Meets Storytelling





114 Degrees

Thermostat reads 114 degrees so the emails are starting to roll in:

"Coach, maybe we should cancel practice."
"Coach maybe we should shorten it and  make it later."
"Coach, what are we going to do about practice."

I haven't put much thought into it yet because I have been too busy with interviews and trying to secure more.

Doing my best to stay relaxed, be confident and stay informed. Stands to reason with this much activity good things should come from it but there is still that little voice that says it is nothing until it is something, push hard and don't stop until you have that signed document.

It is a mix of excitement and nerves, this moment. What will come and where will it be? Will it be the next big thing I have been searching for or will it be a bridge to the next thing. I don't want a stopgap, I want something with stability and substance.

But we only have so much control so I am rolling with it and waiting to see what comes in my email and or shows on the phone.

Need new stuff to read?

The Secret To Better Sex or maybe something like:

Inertia

Sometimes inertia is a friend and sometimes it is an enemy. I learned the hard way about how it can hurt people when I didn't pay close enough attention to what was happening around me.

Things were going south at where I was at and I had an opportunity to jump ship and try something new but chose to stay to see what would happen. Hindsight is 20-20 so it is easy to look back and see the signs that were obvious as well as those that weren't.

It helps mitigate my not moving as fast as I should have but it doesn't fix what happened, mostly because I can't travel back in time and tell myself not to let inertia prevent me from taking a chance.

The good news is I learned from that experience and have made a point not to let inertia be the primary factor in choosing to take a chance or not.

Been through multiple interviews recently and am feeling good, but a little spent because of all of the turmoil. I am confident I'll figure it out and part of that is based upon what I learned.

This time around inertia isn't stopping me from moving ahead,

Worth Thinking About

Finished my run at the last job not long ago. Ended a bit sooner than I had hoped but when you are a contract employee that comes with the territory. Sometimes they extend your contract and sometimes they shake your hand and wish you good luck.

I got the handshake, warm wishes and was told to use them as a reference. Good things to have but not as good as a steady paycheck. Been working on what comes next and have had a few options and opportunities come my way.

Nothing earth shattering or amazing yet but that is ok because this sort of thing is a sprint and not a marathon. Been pushing to find something outside of the hometown because the cost of living would make life easier and that is a good thing.

Kids aren't real fond of that idea and I understand but they won't be the decision maker here. They will be much happier if their old man is working and keeping food on the table, roof over their head then if they live where they know on the streets.

Not really worried about that happening but it illustrates the point. Still I admit to wondering and worrying about them because that is what parents do.

Their lives have been good but sometimes I feel badly they have had a bit more upheaval than I did as a kid. I expect the end result will still be positive but it doesn't mitigate the feeling of uncertainty on my end.

Probably because no decisions have been made so there is nothing to focus on right now. Once some of those details have been worked out life will be easier.

Looking for reading material?

Try these:

Not Quite Abandoned

I didn't think it had been as many months away from here as it has clearly been. I was certain I had updated this place in December and ...