Thing #13: Behind the Music

In my younger years, when I was first introduced to music television (or what was formerly “music” television), I watched, with great interest, musicians and family members of those musicians unravel their famous lives on a little show called Behind the Music. Aerosmith, Nsync, and Bon Jovi – all commemorated with their very own episodes of television goodness with 1 hour to explore the birth of lead singers, creation of the perfect bands, temporary demises caused by booze, drugs, and women, and reunion tours. It molds all interests – music, history, and idle gossip – into one fabulous hour.

And it’s returned.

Yesterday, between fitful after-work sleep, I listened as Pink (ne Alicia) all too carefully dissected her life story. The story begins with a drug-addicted and dealing 13-year-old and follows her to her rise as a Philadelphia club singer, to signed artist, to miserable famous person, to clean/semi-sober, un-separated current rock star (whose talents are as of yet, untested and largely unknown). I listened (kind of) intently as the images and sound clips passed on the screen.

I, for one, am happy to have my dose of Behind the Music again. It’s almost as righteous as MTV would be if they actually played an entire music video during daylight hours. Almost.

Thing #12: Waking up to exercise

It rarely seems like a good idea when the alarm goes off an hour or an hour and half before I actually have to be awake, especially on these precious weekend days when I hoard hours of sleep like a Springsteen fan might hoard sweaty guitar picks from concerts. But once I'm awake and moving, it seems genius.

Get the blood pumping before the day begins. Enjoy the burn. Burn some of the calories I'm going to eat regardless of the status of my physical fitness regimen. Spend time alone with my head before the noises of the day crowd out the voice that sometimes tries to give me guidance.

Waking up to exercise really is fantastic.

And though I've sworn off long runs in the morning (especially as the main means of half-marathon preparatory training), I still enjoy the early(ish) morning walk or jog or bike ride. It's refreshing.

Thing #11: Corn pudding

Drew has a teammate named Skeeter. Skeeter has a mom who makes corn pudding, corn pudding sent from God, or something akin to that. She's also delightfully entertaining and kind. I like her AND her corn pudding.

And for chatting with her today about Farmville's most recent crazy quadruple homicide and for her tasty corn pudding, I feel as though it must make my list of things to be happy about.

(and for the record, there have been countless things to be happy about in the last month, but I brain farted and completely forgot I had a blog. I guess those things'll happen.)