A Successful Weekend

Bear Down Wildcats... after our talented basketball program continued its self destruction in the NCAA tournament, the men's and women's swim programs turned UofA frowns upside down, both capturing national titles (note that many UofA fans may not even be aware of this accomplishment - all the more reason to blog it up)... the first titles for either group and the first titles for acclaimed coach Frank Busch who had the foresight to kindly decline my offer to join the team in late 2000.




http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/story/321824.html
http://uanews.org/node/19051

I realize that swimming doesn't get much air time on ESPN or Fox Sports, but the onset of the Olympics in a few months will bring my favorite sport into the spotlight once again. Say what you might (Russ - think about Track before making any sly comments), but anyone whose been around a swim TEAM knows that while the majority of attention falls on the individual athletes (like golf or tennis), there is an underlying team mentality that shines through the relays and total team/country point battles... where a gutsy performance by a 3rd or 4th string Freestyler, even by a tenth of a second can separate gold from bronze.

In preparation for 'Swimming Appreciation' month (aka every fourth August), set your DVR to record some of the Olympics Team Trials where 4 years of hard work culminates in selecting the 3 fastest representatives for each event... June 29 - July 6 in Omaha, Nebraska (coolest thing to come out of Omaha since the Stanfields). For beginniners, try to catch the relays or shorter events which will be more frantic and exciting.

The Wildcats weren't the only team to celebrate success this past weekend, the Phillips finally crested the 18 mile mark on our morning runs, although after 3:15 it was nearly lunch by the time we finished! We will now taper in preparation for the marathon in two weeks - made easier by a vacation in the Maldives early next week. We're VERY anxious to get the marathon done and over, while taking a great opportunity to sightsee in the promised land (aka Jordan / Dead Sea). Note: we do not plan on running any more marathons (although we hear that's what everyone says before their first).

We had to run our 18 mile 'trainer a day later than expected (Saturday) because on Thursday night we were enjoying a nice evening with 300+ of my coworkers at our annual work formal, where after 3 or 4 names were drawn without their owner present (LOVE that rule), our Venture manager picked my name out of the hat to go home with the door prize, which at the Doha A&M Boot Scoot is actually a huge wooden door (Aggies?!), but at this event turned out to be a 52" Samsung LCD Flat Panel TV (1080p)... unbelievable, but true. Just need Qatar to get some HD cable service before the olympics!

Nothing stays new forever

Oscar award winners, Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova, performed the song 'Falling Slowly' from their independent film 'Once' in front of a packed house of celebs - televised halfway 'round the world (the Oscars were televised in Doha on 2 day tape delay). The song itself was played beautifully, filled with raw emotion that was a welcome break from the costume infused productions for the 3 songs nominated in Disney's 'Enchanted' (3 songs from one movie, come on?). Many thanks to the academy for recognizing a talented Indie-duo outside the stereotypical categories of documentary / short film.

I realized early into the song that Glen has played guitar for a long time... not because he used complex chords or had a confident stage presence. Instead, a good portion of his guitar had been worn away, presumably by years of strumming. Some things are meant to be used. I can still hear my mom reminding me - 'You can't take it with you' whenever I would cautiously avoid wearing my new high tops or gold 49ers jacket, fearful of them losing their newness. Dents, scars, and dirt are signs of life, badges of experience, however painful they may be at first. Few people intentionally ding their doors, scrape their shoes, or drop their iPods, but at some point between the 4th and 17th scratch your mindset changes from maintaining the newness to celebrating the worn remains of a life well lived. In that moment of transitional thought the blemishes which make things less valuable to others make them more valuable to us. This concept passionately manifests itself in the human experience - in the relationships we share with our close friends, loving family, and benevolent Creator, whom treasure us despite our faults.

Top 3 things that I now value more for their imperfections:
1. Three year old Rainbow leather flip flops (worried a tear in the thong may continue spreading)
2. Four year old 'The Shanty' tee shirt (imported of course - thankfully navy doesn't show sweat stains)
3. Thirteen year old leather bound NIV Student Bible with the tattered Easter Bookmark it came with (and a seven year old rose petal of personal significance tucked into 1Corinthians)

Note: my six year old Washburn has some light scratches on the strum guard and a minor chip near the 3rd fret... probably why I haven't won an Oscar yet.

So what items do you cling to beyond their retirement age?