New Year's Revolutions

Resolutions. Revolutions. What's the difference? With the first one resolves to change or become better. With the second one recognizes he/she must revolt against the old habits, destroy them, and conquer them. Spoken in a truly dark pink tone, eh? This year I have ponder a few changes in life, and now I'm going to put them in writing:

1. I will run at least 4 times a week, every month. OK, this is a physical goal. I'm striving for fitness. And in all of my time in education I know that goals must be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. I can do this. I have for the last 2 weeks, totalling 25 and 21 miles respectively. Most of the time it will feel good. Sometimes it will suck. But it provides time for self-improvement, self-reflection, fresh air, and auditory pleasure--I always take the i-pod. Along these same lines, I would like to run 1,000 miles this year. We'll see how the body and spirit hold up.

2. I will improve my Spanish by studying at least 1 day a week, every month. Language, like other things, follows the old maxim "Use it or lose it." I've had some great opportunities working with ESOL students and would like to take a 2 or 3 week trip to a Spanish-speaking country to brush up on the skills--maybe Mexico, hopefully Argentina, Ideally Spain. As a morale booster, I only own hero jerseys of players from Spanish-speaking countries, and I drink the crap out of yerbamate.

3. I will write at least 1 post a week, every month. I'm talking this blog, visbits. The family blog doesn't count. For one, I don't post on it, and secondly, I have to remind my wife to wipe blogger blood from the corners of her mouth every time she turns off the computer. She's an animal. As stupid as it might sound, I want to be a writer. And what better way to become a writer than writing? I'd like to say I have writing quirks--writing naked, or upside down, or from the bathroom--but I don't. Maybe those will be side effects of my insatiable typing.

4. I will read 1 short story or 1 poem a week, every month. Classics. Contemporary. Spanish. Whatever. As I ponder a starting point, I would like to read some Chekov, Hemingway, Garcia Marquez, Cortazar, O'connor, Levis, Neruda, and David Kirby. If anyone is intersted, we could start a reading club. Not a book club, which at times seems daunting, especially to those that see reading as a chore, but a forum in which we could share short, realistic readings that have the potential to open us up to profound insight. We could also include essays or verses from scripture or other religious writing. Let me know if you're interested. My Cholinergic System is going crazy right now.

5. I will not divulge my 5th goal. It has to do with things spiritual and familial. Sorry to be so obtuse.

Anyway, these are my short-term revolutions, which I can measure week-by-week and month-by-month. Feel free to ask me how I'm doing with my revolutions or let me in on yours. We can be goal buddies. That's it for the present. The future consists of more lists and possibly something about lifetime goals and aspirations. Paz.

A Few of My Favorite Things

Here it goes, my attempt at a list. I just finished reading "High FIdelity" by Nick Hornby--the movie features Jack Black and John Cusack. The characters use lists as a way of revealing character. For instance, if a person puts U2 in a top 5 list it says a lot about that person, maybe enough to sever or intensify a relationship. So here is my first list:

3 Ways to Escape

1. Fox Football Fone-In--In the summer we switched to DirectTV. With the most basic package a guy can pay 12 bucks a month and get a slew of sports channels-about 27 FSN, GolTV, and FSC (Fox Soccer Channel). We don't, however, get ESPN. Needless to say, I traded in my daily fix of ESPN News for a more Methadone-like dose of soccer--weekends packed full of matches and weekdays full of reruns. Anyway, on Tuesday evenings, FSC runs a show called Fox Football Fone-In--2 action-packed hours of Stephen and Nick bantering back and forth about football from all over the world, especially England. Oh and they bash the MLS constantly. What is it about multiple fat guys talking about sports that makes me feel so comfy in my skin?

2. Ambient Music--Ambient music basically consists of 2 things: a lack of lyrics, ususally, and scintillating technologically-based music. As weird as it sounds, this music makes a great alternative soundtrack to nature. If you're interested, check out Brian Eno, Stars of the Lid, and Mum.

3. 90-minute Chunks of Running Every 2 Weeks--You bet Pre's mustache that I love running, but, up until just recently, the longest I would run in 1 session was 45-55 minutes. A few weeks back, however, I started to use every other Saturday to run off as far as I want and lose myself amidst the pain, heavy breathing, and, of course, ambient music. Sure, I walk a little. I leave the house with a tentative attitude and an I-should've-started-this-a-long-time-ago gait and return with a Chuck Norris-like beard. Not really. I can't even grow sideburns. But I feel like Chuck Norris, and that's better than anything you get at a head shop.

Well, that's all. If someone does happen to read this, share your own list, or Chuck might beat you down. But never fear his tears are the ultimate panacea.

The World of Morrissey

I was driving with my family today, listening to a compilation CD, when I heard a Morrissey song--"You're the one for me, Fatty. My daughter loves to sing along with this song, and I won't lie and tell you that I don't sing along because I do. Anyway, hearing the song today got me to thinking about Morrissey's popularity--he's a poet, an icon, a subject for college courses, and even big in Mexico. His music is straight forward verse-chorus-verse. His image is upper-class-happy-days. And he tends to sing flat of a song's key. He's the embodiment of thinking England, well-read, and a vegesexual. He taught me how to say Yeats properly. He's indirectly responsible for the James explosion in southern Utah. And he puts on a concert that is truly an experience. But without all of this knowledge, a significant back knowledge of The Smiths, and Craig Kilborn's constant endorsement, I don't know how I would even break into Morrissey's world. It has it's own landscape full of wet sand, cemetaries, Vicars, panic, and murder. It has it's own vernacular, it's own dress code, it's own meat-watchers point system. And it's as polarizing as female circumcision. If you know about it, you have an opinion about it. For me it's a great travel destination when I'm in a certain mood--it definitely takes me back to visit certain places and people--but I don't plan on buying land there anytime soon, especially since I can crash at the Wellzes.

Running with/against the mind

I'm going to write about running. At this point, you are already hesitant or happy to keep reading. Either way, it's understandable. August 2006, I ran a half marathon because my wife thought it would be fun. After the massive amount of miles logged in training--somewhere between 8 and 12 total--I felt surprisingly demolished after the race. My calves tightened up, and the outside of my knee throbbed--especially when I walked down stairs. Because of that day I came to 2 conclusions: I would never run a marathon, and I wanted to learn how to enjoy running. So far, I've accomplished both. After a year of being the guy that everyone sees and says, "If that guy can do it . . . ," I can say I enjoy running. In the past week, a revelation has come, and it says, "There are 2 types of people: those that can't mentally run, and those that can't not run." Obviously, some folks might say, "what about those that have disabilities and can't physically run?" For you, I present team Hoyt:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXHP-6yWTOo . The rest of us fall into the 2 revelatory categories. Either you think of nothing but the suckitude of running while you are running, or you use your running time to let your mind wander or ponder on those things that are consuming it. I use to be the former. Breath heaving. Feet slapping. I sounded like a tire going flat. Since then, I have found the upside of running. My wife says I'm happier, and, honestly, I relish my duty as "That Guy." If you've read this far, you must be a runner. Or you're still hoping there's a point to all this. The point is if feeble-minded I can do it, then so can you. So start today, Labor Day, and don't look back. Just a few things to leave you with: Try running with your favorite music; read about runners--Rodger Bannister, Prefontaine, Amby Burfoot, or even The Penguin; check out runnersworld.com; and, finally, spend a little money on yourself and buy some running shoes and lightweight running clothes. Until then, search out runners and ask them why they do it.