The Dichotomy of Music

I was enjoying the high school choir holiday concert on Sunday when one of the groups began to sing "This Little Light of Mine." My mind wandered back a few years to preschool concerts. I could see in my mind the children being herded to the front of the room by their teachers. I remembered how cute the children were as they sang their little hearts out. Their enthusiasm and smiles made it impossible not to grin from ear to ear.

Sunday was different. The music director had complete control. With just a wave of the hand or a knowing glance, the young adults made seamless transitions. Their faces beamed with pride. They sang with confidence and clarity as their voices rang through the auditorium. Their was a smile on my face, but it was difficult to hold back the tears in my eyes from the beauty of the music.

Study Hard

Are my math skills rusty?

I just had an occasion to read the following:

"Did you know, in 2006, an estimated 2 million U.S. employees were physically or verbally abused in the workplace? Workplace violence affects one out of every four full-time American workers each year.*"

*Source: Northwestern National Life Insurance

So let me see if I got this correct. 2 million abused, which is 25% of the work force. Therefore, there are 8 million people in the work force in a country of approximately 300 million people?

Unemployment is a huge problem.

Miami University Student Foundation Triathlon

I participated in the Miami University Student Foundation Triathlon over the weekend. It was a great event. Everything seemed so well planned and thought out. The facilities were great. I especially loved swimming in the 50 meter pool. Here at the "Y" we only have a 25 yard pool and it gets tiresome turning around all the time.

The volunteers at the event were helpful. I had asked a couple of questions of the volunteers and they had the answers and were cheerful in their response. Along the course it was nice to have them cheer us on. Even the participants who finished before me were there to cheer me on! All in all it was a great event.

I trained long and hard for this event. I awoke early many days a week training in the cold and sometimes snow and rain. On the day of the event I swam hard, rode hard, and ran hard. In fact, I was imagining that it was my best run ever. Therefore, I eagerly awaited the posting of the results.

Saturday afternoon I check the website, no results. Saturday night? Nope. I awoke early on Sunday morning, no results. Now I am starting to have mixed feelings about the event. I check again Sunday afternoon, photos!

The photos are great. What a nice addition to the race to have our pictures taken as we cross the finish line. But where are the results?

There was a set of train tracks that ran through the middle of the course. They had warned us before the race began that CSX was not cooperating and there existed the possibility of a train interrupting the race. They promised that if it did happen all those involved would have their times adjusted accordingly. Just as I crossed the tracks, I could hear the bell begin to ring and the crossing gate go down. Was that the hold up with the results?

Finally, Sunday evening the results get posted and what do I find? There it was in three large capital letters, DNF. Did Not Finish?? Was it a dream? I realize I only had 3 hours sleep on Friday night. As I was loading the van on Friday night I discovered a broken spoke. A quick trip to the bike shop for a new one solved that problem, but then I popped my tube. This time off to Wal-Mart because the bike shop had long since closed. Eventually I got the van loaded and off to bed by midnight. The next morning (or was it still night time) it was a long 2 and a half hour drive to Oxford, OH. I may have been a little sleepy, but I clearly remember the great time I had at the event. The course, the volunteers, the spectators, the participants, and all that training made for a great event.

DNF? No, I am sure I was there. My sore legs know I was there. And, the photo shows me crossing the finish line.