Carole King & James Taylor Concert

I saw this duo Tuesday night in South Philadelphia at the Wachovia Center.  JT was very good and Carole King was great.  She brought down the house with powerful renditions of some of her classics.  JT busted out a rap - of sorts - and did some bluesy sounds.  Really good concert.  It was neat to see how much they obviously care about each other after 40+ years of friendship and collaboration.  So glad I decided to go see them. I was exhausted the next day but it was worth it.

RunaMuck, Harriman State Park, New York

Mud, sweat but no tears.  This was the RunaMuck event near Stony Point, New York (about 30 minutes from NYC) just off the Palisades Parkway.  It was a fun way to spend this past weekend.

RunaMuck is a mud and music festival held near or in various cities - DC, Philly, New York, Chicago and Boston.  It is a 5K event with several start times. You can run alone, in a team of 2 or 4, costumed, or non-costumed.  The run isn't your average 5K as you run through mud, on trails, through a body of water, and over and under obstacles.  The last obstacle before the finish line is to climb a hill and land in a enormous mud pit.  To make sure you get get mud in your eye (and everywhere else), you have to crawl under ropes in this pit. 

To make it more exciting, the hill gave the runners an audience so some runners performed rituals - somersaulting, rolling, dancing, kissing - as they prepared to make the plunge. 

We took off from the Philly area around 3:45 on Friday and didn't arrive to our destination for about 4 hours.  Traffic on NJ Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and 287 was a nightmare.  We also didn't have the best directions and cell phone reception was almost non-existent so it was hard to find the correct location.  Once in the state park, we camped in style in my friend's Airstream.  It was actually cold in the evening so it was nice to escape the heat.

The day of the race was hot and humid.  This didn't deter people from sporting their costumes, some of which seemed hot.  I know I was grateful for the the run through the lake.  I'm sure the costumed runners were especially glad to hit the water!  With that, I'll just share pictures because they truly are worth a thousand words. 

Mud runs are seemingly all the rage. I learned there's another mud series called Down and Dirty. This is run in LA, NYC, Philly, and Sacramento. I think I'll try this series next year.

Relay for Life

I wandered over to the local high school a few Friday nights ago to walk around a track for hours.  The infield of the track looked like a tent city.  The track was filled with people young and old.  Many were wearing either purple shirts - the shirt no one ever really wants - or white shirts. It was a humid and warm night but I often had goosebumps, and occasionally a painful lump in my throat and tears in my eyes - like when I saw the young, bald boy in the purple shirt or the smiling and laughing old woman in her purple shirt.  They were survivors; this was the Relay for Life.

The Relay for Life is an American Cancer Society event to raise funds and bring communities together.  Teams from the community - including businesses, schools, or just friends and families - raise money and walk in this event.  According to the Relay for Life website,

Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.

The Relay officially kicked off at 6pm.  I was glad to get there for the opening ceremony; it was close because of getting held up at work.  This was the second year my partner and I participated in this event and I wanted to be there again for her during the opening ceremony.  The announcer began the "survivor lap" (where survivors and their caretakers walk once around the track) by asking people who had been diagnosed one year ago or less to get in line first.  I studied their faces - these were the shell-shocked and, in some cases, the sickest looking as many had probably recently finished treatments.  Like last year, this had me fighting my emotions.

The announcer than asked for people who had cancer less than 3 years ago, then less than 5 years ago, less than 10 years ago, etc. up until around 25 years ago or more.  She then said to the people in the front, "Look behind you and know that people do survive cancer; feel their support behind you."  Damn.  That was a very powerful moment.

Because my partner is a survivor, we walked the lap.  It's funny how emotions you're unaware of or haven't visited in a long time come out sometimes.  This was one of those times.  Something internal tires and gives in.  Not in out-of-control way but in a "there is still so much to process" way.  It comes to the surface and in a few short minutes gets pushed down again. But the moment is staggering.

After the survivor lap everyone began the relay.  This was the time to view people's tents as some had themes.  There was also music blaring on the track.  Off the track in the courtyard, there was a jazz band from the high school performing.  They were set up by a food vendor so it was nice to take a food break and see them perform under the little, white lights that surrounded them. 

Later in the evening the survivors had a special dinner.  After dinner they were encouraged to sign the birthday card and indicated how old they were now.  This is a nod to a survivor's "2nd birthday."  That is, it's the day they learn they are cancer-free.  My partner will have her 4th second birthday in July, very near to her actual date of birth.

As dusk approached, the luminaries were placed around the track.  (The luminaries are sold so this is another way the Cancer Society raises money.)  It's a beautiful sight to walk the track and view the bags.  It's also very moving as you read the names on the bags - the names of those fighting the disease or those who have succumbed. 

I was particularly struck by a young boy who sat in front of a luminary for literally 40 minutes, if not more.  It was the picture of innocence.  He was so sweet. He just stared at the bag, often with his hands clasped.  I would guess he was around 7 or 8 and he wore a big sombrero.  I walked past him numerous times and I finally stopped to talk to him. 

First, I asked if I could speak to him.  He looked up at me and I saw his big eyes and pleasant smile when he said, "Sure."  I asked him if he was remembering someone and he said, "No, I'm thinking of my Aunt Patty but she's not dead."  Ah...kids.  Just put it right out there.

He told me he drew on the bag and I complimented him on his good work.  I think this is one of those moments you remember for a long time.  Maybe even a lifetime.  It was dark when I took his picture and he was also wearing dark clothing.  You can see his form because of his sombrero.  He's a little to the right of the middle bag.

Just before I talked to this boy they held a ceremony to light the "HOPE" luminaries.  This was a somber time where people walked the track silently and remembered those that were lost.

I realize this may sound like a downer of an evening to some but it really wasn't.  It felt good to be in an environment where you could just be whatever emotion you felt.  It felt safe and supportive. 

There were lots of fun moments, too.  It was nice to laugh with familiar people and meet new ones.  In addition, after the HOPE luminaries were lit the mood was lifted when there was an announcement that the Stanley Cup Finals game (with the hometown Flyers competing) was going to be projected at the end of the track on a jumbo screen.  That was a lot of fun.

I am planning on inviting more friends to next year's Relay.  (Hint:  If you are my friend and you're reading, plan for the first Friday night in June.  Put it on the calendar now!)  I just don't want to see you in a purple shirt. 

Plenitude

I'm reading a book called Plenitude.  In short, it's part economics book and part self-help for those desperate for less work and more interesting lives.  (That's a terrible over-simplification.) 

I don't have a lot of time to read it right now but there are parts that are resonating.  (There are also other parts that sound like blah-blah-blah.)  If I had anything left tonight I'd elaborate but I don't so I can't.  Which reminds me, I still haven't blogged about a meaningful event that occurred almost 3 weeks ago now.  That defies the definition of plenitude.

(In spite of myself, I'm not forgetting about my blessings.  I realize only those well-fed/sheltered and able to pay bills get to dwell on the internal battle I wage.)

No Wandering Feels Like No Life

I feel like I'm living to work instead of working to live.  I don't like it.  I keep telling myself this insanity will end soon. 

I did a presentation today and decided to break the tension with a Statue of Liberty theme.  Thank God someone knew about the plaque at the base of the statue or I would have been hosed in my setup of this picture.  This did the trick - people laughed and the tension was broken.  We united around our common feeling of being tired, huddled masses.

The italics represent words I added or changed from the original Emma Lazarus poem.  (Epic is the name of the project we're undertaking that's sucking the life out of us.) 

                   

If I get off the computer right now I won't have to touch one again for 12 hours. In the words of the late television and radio journalist Edward R. Murrow, "Good night and good luck."

I'll need both tonight.

Memorial Day Weekend in Rehoboth Beach, DE

Friends have a place in Rehoboth Beach so that was the destination this past holiday weekend.  It was a hot and steamy weekend and many, many people had the idea that "the shore" was the best place to be.  This resort town was crowded.  Still, we were able to avoid the beaten path much of the time and enjoy the hustle and bustle when we wanted to be in it.
The weather was cloudy and rainy on Saturday so it was a bike ride day.  We thought we had a break in the weather but we ended up soaked.  It was fun, though, as it felt like being a kid again when getting rained on made you laugh.  It was nice that no one cared about their hair or getting splashed by a car.

Saturday night had us cooking in and having a feast - fresh corn, asparagus, a pepper and onion mix, steak, shrimp and wine. Um um good.  Instead of going out, we relaxed, talked, and watched the Flyers lose a shoot-out...while watching Halladay from the Phillies throw a perfect game- only the 20th in baseball and the first time for the Phillies since Bunning threw one in 1964.

Sunday we tried to get over to Cape Henlopen State Park (home of the Biden Center, as in V.P. Joe) for the beach and some rays.  We were there by 11am but that was already too late.  There was no more parking and we were turned around by the rangers.  That meant back to the bay beach where it was sweltering.  Still, it was nice to have the "it's finally summer" feeling.  (Granted, it's not summer per the calendar, but a summer-like Memorial Day Weekend was convincing enough to go with that feeling.)

Sunday night we headed out for a late dinner.  We wandered the streets (after sitting in traffic looking for parking) and decided to land at Mixx.  It appealed to us because of the nice guy who encouraged us to "come on in" as well as the menu.  Mixx serves tapas- and entree-sized plates for fairly reasonable prices.  They also offered flights of margaritas and wine at various prices.  This small bar/restaurant was comfortable and the food was OK - not fabulous but not bad either.

After dinner we headed to Penny Lane where we ate dessert crepes outside.  Penny Lane is just a short distance from the "main drag" and hustle and bustle of Rehoboth; it's also a stone's throw to the beach.  It felt a world apart from both.  I felt like I was in a little town with storefronts that had varied architecture.  The bonus - it was soooooo quiet.  Yes, I know it was Memorial Day Weekend and many people were partying.  The brief respite, however, was heavenly.

Monday morning we were determined to get to the beach.  We didn't get to Cape Henlopen State Park much early than before - arriving at 10:30-ish - but what a difference a day makes.  We ran into some friends and met some new folks.  The sun was scorching and creating lobsters left and right but it was pleasant because of the cool ocean breeze.  It was a nice day.

As I walked on the beach I met a woman who missed St. Petersburg, FL.  She told me this is why she brought her own  palm tree.  Her little friend, as seen here in her sexy, black leather bustier, was washed up on shore.  Oh the stories she could probably tell...if she weren't plastic, that is.

It wasn't too far from the palm tree that I saw the artillery towers.  I was expecting them this time as I had been to this beach in the past.  It's still odd to see these large towers on the beach.  They're obviously very prominent. 

I googled these towers and learned a bit more about them.  There are 11 of them on the beaches of NJ and Delaware.  Eight are in Delaware and the other three are in NJ.  Many were built during WWII after Pearl Harbor.  (It seems as though a few may have been built before then.) 

During the war, it was believed that the Delaware Bay was vulnerable, especially after a German U-boat sank the navy destroyer Jacob Jones off the coast of Delaware on February 28, 1942.  These towers were lookouts that were intended to prevent enemy ships from entering the bay.  From what I read, the view from the towers allowed the gun crews to see about 14.5 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. 

The towers have different heights and some of them have only two viewing slits, while others have four. (The ones I saw clearly have two slits.)  The openings below the large slits are where the guns were housed.  These guns reportedly shot so far that the military men couldn't see where they landed.

After reaching the towers, I headed back to my beach chair.  There was only about an hour or so left before it was time to head back to PA.  In true summer holiday weekend fashion, many people were on the road heading home.  It was impossible to avoid this part of the hustle and bustle and still arrive home at a decent hour so we went for it.  Our reward was burgers on the grill at a friend's house back in PA.  Ahhhhh...summer.