Just Some Rambling Going On In My Head

Usually, after watching WWE Smackdown and curling up next to my life-sized cardboard Baptista. Let me stop right here a moment. For those of you who don't know, Hulk Hogan retired from wrestling a few years ago. Dave Baptista, though no longer the champ will return to his official role in nine days when he beats Khali. So no more remarks ((DAVE)) about my wrestling honey and future husband!

Anyway, as I was mentioning earlier, after watching Smackdown I usually open my planner and start preparing for the work week ahead. Tonight I'm not doing any of that. Tonight I'm going to update my blog and read yours to see what I've missed.

I don't have a particular topic for tonight's blog, just some thoughts rolling around. Most of them sad, but aren't those the ones we tend to remember or hold on to the longest?

*First off, thanks to everyone who commented in the previous Love v. Never Loved post. You left some inspiring and great comments, except for one who shall remain nameless (see above in red).

*I feel for the families of the miners that were lost this week. I was reading an article on it where the UMW mouth is going on and on about how the deaths were unnecessary and could have been prevented if they had just used union workers and American workers blah, blah, blah. If I were a member of one of the families, I wouldn't want some pompous blowhard telling me my daddy or husband or uncle died because he wasn't a union worker. What kind of crap is that?

*Poor Michael Vick's mother. Raising those children, trying to do the best for them on what little she had. To see them both make it through the ranks of college and pro football only to see their dreams, and her dreams too, disappear into thin air. I've thought a lot about this story because I'm a football fan and true fans understand that no matter the team, when something happens to one player, all fans feel the loss.

I've thought about it from the fan angle, then the family angle: two sons that could have written their ticket into fame and fortune via football have lost it all. The money. All gone. The fame. Gone. The homes and financial security. Considering how much he has to spend to stay out of prison, and his lost revenue from ads, Michael's will all be gone.

I've thought about it from the race angle: why can't black athletes behave? Why are they so easily drawn to risky and damaging schemes & activities? But I remember that the Williams sisters are doing very well. Shannon and Sterling haven't been plastered all over the news leaving Federal court. I was going to mention Michael and Leon Spinks but nah, I'll leave well enough alone.

*My boss gave me a plum assignment. One that will generate greater visibility to my leadership, my thought leadership, my ability to coach and motivate without authority, my ability to do all this and still have time to come home and shower each day. I'm complaining, but I'm really very happy and pleased. I was surprised by his announcement, especially because there was someone else who wanted the assignment but he chose me and I really appreciate it. I was so giddy after the announcement I bought myself a rolling briefcase. Of course it's not the one I really want (Kenneth Cole black leather $199.99 at Macy's.com in case any of you are feeling generous) but it's cute. I don't know how often I'll use it but I have it when I need it.

*Love, again. There are so many people who take love for granted that when it's gone, you think you'll go stark raving mad unless you can find someone to just touch you. Just hold a glance longer than asking for a paperclip. To see someone across the room and share a knowing wink or to fill all goosey when they wiggle their eyebrows at you. Yeah I said "goosey", it's cute.

At work I see all of these people who think love is nothing more than a great big carousel filled with horses of all colours and shapes, glittering mirrors, beautiful lights and vibrantly pulsing music. These people don't think about the horses, they simply jump on to whichever horse they choose, ride for a while then hop on to the next one. They don't know that one day the music's gonna stop and they've ridden all the horses and have been left with nothing true. The beautiful music's stopped, the horses don't work anymore and their paints have faded, the beautiful flashing lights have burned out and there they are...silent, looking at their reflection in the carousel mirrors. The ride's ended.

*Vegas. My niece's baby shower is next Sunday and I've ordered her a beautiful bassinet. I honestly bought the first one I saw. I never do that! I compare prices, brands, read customer reviews, the whole nine yards. But when I saw this one at Target, I just had to buy it! What can I say, I'm a sucker for my nieces and purses. And football. And Baptista. And you, the people who tag me and are now sending my oldest blogging buds to force me to blog more. et tu, Jeni? et tu?