Will you sign my yearbook?

I started listening to my iPod again earlier this week. One of the first songs it went to on random was "Beautiful People" by Marilyn Manson. I had to laugh a little at myself for how much angst I had as a teenager. But it got me thinking...and then I read my cousin's note on Facebook about adolescence.

I often mutter the phrase "You couldn't pay me enough money to go through high school again." I like to think If only I knew then what I know now. But lately I have to wonder how much things have changed:

• When getting ready for a house-warming party, I chastised myself for wondering what I should wear. My friend called me a few minutes later with the same question.
• My friends and I still analyze the notes (emails, texts) we get from friends and romantic interests. Gossip and boys are still at the top of the order of most of our conversations.
• I know where the cute boys work in the skyway. (Again with the boys!)
• Try as I might, I still care what people think of me. I don't think I'm alone here.

As I sat trying to write some poignant advice to my cousin from someone who had "been there" I realized that maybe I still am there. Yeah sure, I might not be teased for being a band nerd anymore (well not teased often anyway) but the self-centered, adolescent mentality that everyone else is thinking something about you is still there. This reminds me of two things I read somewhere:

1. Don't take yourself too seriously. No one else does.
2. What other people think of you is none of your business.

Baseball will save my soul.

Today is the Autumn Equinox. There are equal amounts of sunlight and darkness all around the planet today. That sort of balance encourages me to seek out more beauty, life and love. So...

...I am going to two Twins games this week! It is about time! I have been to 16 games this year but I think these will be the best ones of the season. Like many Americans, I am going to forget all the problems in this world with beer and baseball. I am hoping to avoid the words economy, gas prices, and any mention of the current mortgage "crisis."

Let's go Twinkies...October here we come!!

Fitness begins in the brain - or - Can you believe the jokers at the beach?

Yesterday at the beach this dude was stretching for about 15 minutes before he went into the water to swim. Of course I was checking him out. He looked pretty serious about his craft. He got into the water and started the front crawl--his arms were flailing about and his head was completely out of the water swaying around like a small child lost at a mall. It was ridiculous. And hilarious.

Today two dudes in their underwear ran by us on the beach. One with an orange sweatband on his head, the other with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. Both were a bit out of shape. Pretty sure it was done as a dare.

What this really brought to my attention is that many people might look serious at first glance about something (in this case fitness) but after considering them further really they don't have the discipline or love to give it the attention it deserves.

While I enjoy the feeling of getting a lot of things accomplished at once, I think that multitasking might be bad on some levels. Nothing gets the love and attention it deserves--kind of like talking on the phone to someone who is watching TV or surfing the web. I baked bread tonight and gave it all my attention and love. It tastes fantastic. I think more of life would taste wonderful if we exercised discipline and gave it the care it needs.