Mississippi: It feels like home

Or so says the sign as you enter the state travelling west on I-20. I'm not sure that one night of residence is really enough to determine whether or not it does "feel like home." Truthfully, I'm just looking forward to resting for a bit. While it is difficult to tell how busy I have actually been by reading this, it is safe to say that as hectic as my schedule has been over the past two months, so has little been written on this space. (Those pointing to the four year hiatus are noted. The point I am making is entirely unrelated.)

As best as I can tell, I now live in a place that is a geographical wonder of sorts. At first glance, there are very few direct routes to most places you would want to go. (I have learned that is, in fact, NOT the case; but the "first glance" part is definitely true.) I am now a good 2 hours from any city I have heard of growing up. I feel not unlike Ulysses Everett McGill when trying to find some Dapper Dan and learning that all shipments take "about 3 days" to arrive.

My personal odyssey is much less entertaining than his, and I am more simply the man of constant than sorrow. Hence, the choice of the magnolia at the top as a sort of self-recognizing, calming "welcome home." May Mississippi be as fraught with grace and opportunity as it is with double consonants.

“To understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi” - William Faulkner

Time for a post about nothing...or maybe everything

I watched High School Musical 2 last night. I figure this can be viewed in 1 of 2 ways, taking into account that I have no children. One: as my wife put it upon learning of my television choice, "I'm sorry." I believe she meant it in a way to suggest that there really must not have been a better option at the time. Truthfully, I watched parts of Tiger Woods' incredible 2nd round in the U.S. Open during parts of the movie. I would superficially sum up this point of view as "why on Earth would you choose to watch that?" Two: as I watched the dozens of videos that had been sent in by children all over the U.S. portraying their individually choreographed and designed music videos using the soundtrack from High School Musical 2, I realized that another significant segment of the population would be just as surprised that I HADN'T already seen it. Amazing the breadth of interests in this country. What a place to live.

Applying one of the themes of High School Musical 2 (my new most favoritest movie until "Rock Camp" with the Jonas Brothers debuts, or so suggested Disney's thematic marketing) to this very blog, I realized that knowing who you are and finding comfort in that is one of the greatest blessings God can give you. One of the reasons this blog has yet been published on a schedule not unlike that of the summer Olympics is because it was originally intended to be only an offshoot of only a segment of my personality. It was something I needed to get out, but I don't think I really wanted to share it, at least not in the context of all things me. So, much like Troy Bolton discovers the rewards of self-awareness, I think this blog will turn into perhaps the greatest hodgepodge of postings I have witnessed on a single blog. Maybe it won't, but I can guarantee you that the me of four years ago would never have even entertained the idea to open the realm of posting possibility to all things my thoughts consume.

And just to prove it, here goes: can anyone else believe that Vanessa Hudgens of Gabriella-fame was in the movie Thirteen? Granted, she played the normal, old best friend of the corruptible main character, and not hell on Earth-child Evie Zamora, but still...Thirteen? I can't believe Disney was down with that.

Next thought: I really need to learn how to make links and insert pictures and stuff. This is going to be one really boring blog without them. (I did just learn how to do italics, though. Baby steps, people.)

Play-all-the-time kid
Student.....forever....but now
Doctor and husband

Haikus rule.

4 years = 1 hell of a hiatus

Truthfully, I had forgotten all about this little tesseract of internet. I am proud to reclaim it.

For those here from the beginning (Pete) to those who might now be visiting (Stranges, perhaps?) I welcome you all. To those in MS, I welcome y'all. Much has changed in 4 years, but these truths shall become self evident.

"As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters."
- Seneca

It is my hope that both my blog and my life will be able to be referenced by that quote.


Today's post is entitled, "Let's liven up the place a little"

A weary soul four years ago
has now been washed away
Life's therapy: a shock or ten
then laughs around dismay

Four moves for moreso work
than play: priorities, you see
Poems and journals hidden then
from everyone but me

Life's ups and downs, in them, contained
and there so shall they stay
Trust me, not even I
would enjoy reading them today.

"Whoop! Aghast! Exclaim!" he thought
(his words avoiding sense)
All emotion's posts reside now at
my old/new blog, from whence

I shall triumphantly return,
and, while being mindful of the past,
Try to kick the dust off my blog's tires
and also a little ass.