Guys, I'm not saying Michael Phelps is one of the most amazing creatures on earth but I AM saying Michael Phelps IS the most amazing creature on Earth.
Seriously.
The man is a MACHINE!!! I saw him win his second gold medal sunday and his third last night. OMG Im not fucking kidding you.....you would have thought Mikey was my kid brother the way I cheered (BTW - He very well could be my kid brother considering he is a solid 10 months younger than myself. I can't begin to get started on THAT). The race last night was outstanding and he was a solid 2 seconds ahead of everyone else in the race which is a huge, ginormous lead when you consider these are the best 8 swimmers in the world there with him. Most races are won with not even 7/10 of a second to spare. Guys - seriously. Fantastic. Have I mentioned that every race he's won he has also broke the world record - ones set my himself previously. COME ON PEOPLE!!!!
There was no video of that race but here he is with his teammates Jason Lezak, Garrett Weber-Gale, & Cullen Jones. In fact, the real star of this race was Lezak.
Onto Gymnastics -
I watched the team preliminaries on Sunday and I have to say, I was kind of disappointed. The girls did pretty good but you could tell they were nervous, and understandably so. They had just been watching these freaks of nature:
who are those sweet, very flexible children?", I hear you asking. Why, that is the CHINESE OLYMPIC TEAM!!!!! I truly think there is something fishy going on - they are beyond tiny and look like my 13 year old cousin. I am not the only one who thinks this.... phooey on you china. But damnit! If they aren't fun to watch! Their 40lbs bodies fly!!!!!
I do have hope for the US team, and that hope is named Shawn Johnson:
she is 16 years old, from des moines, and she KILLS it everytime!!! Her teammate Nastia is pretty fantastic too but that Shawnie -- she'll show the Chinese what's up.
In conclusion, I really thought I would have to fake my love of the Olympics you guys. But guess what!! I'm not!!! It's true, real, and passionate. LOVE!!!
Dear John Edwards -
I loved you, you know. I met you, I fell for your ideas and your stories and charm. I have many buttons with your name on it.
Now, I find out you're just a huge asshole. Maybe even MORE of an asshole than most politicians. I don't much care for you anymore -- I don't much care for anyone who cheats on their terminally ill wife who is the mother of their two little children.
You've made me really, truly dislike and not trust any politician.
"Screw you, Edwards."
I now would like to wear that on a button.
turns out my love for you is NOT unconditional,
Kelly
It hasn't been an easy month.
(and that's the understatement of the year)
but it's better. it's getting there. I'm feeling tinges of happiness in my heart -- it's all very hopeful.
and through this all I reconnected with a song that stirs my soul.
in my most broken moments I would sing this song to myself --
"I told you to be patient
I told you to be fineI told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
Now all your love is wasted?
Then who the hell was I?
Now I'm breaking at the britches
And at the end of all your lines
Who will love you?
Who will fight?
Who will fall far behind?"
It isn't a song that reflects my feelings towards someone else, or a situation with someone else, or a story with someone else. Its a song that reflected me. my inner dialogue. I believe when people are broken, hurt, let down, and devastated our minds split into two: the broken down part and the part that is trying SO HARD to move on. It's a constant battle, at least to me. I feel this song captured it perfectly.
Then I read an interview today with Justin Vernon , the magical man behind Bon Iver, where he said pretty much exactly what I thought: its a song to himself, trying to move on and be real again but being overcome with self-accusations and negativity. A song to the part of him that he battles everyday to stay afloat.
perfection.
I bet I listened to 'Skinny Love' 4-6 times a day this whole month, it continues to give me goosebumps. Then I saw this performance doubled them. Raw. Wonderful. Song of the Year: 2008. (don't you dare tell me how awe inspiring it was to see him at Pitchfork, JP! I can only, sadly, imagine.)
it's happening.
one of my many life-accepting therapies is starting today, in fact - it already has. What is it, you ask?
that's right - the olympics, bitches!
I haven't cared/watched/cared about these big games since 1996. Celine Dion sang "Power of the Dream", the games were in Atlanta, and I was obsessed with The Magnificent 7 - Shannon Miller, Dominique Moceanu, Dominique Dawes, Kerri Strug, Amy Chow, Amanda Borden andJaycie Phelps. I watched them religiously and I may have even cried a single tear when poor, broken Kerri Strug landed that vault.
Well, Celine Dion sang again at the opening ceremonies and I feel that means its time to have my American pride back -- lord knows its impossible to feel positive about anything else going on in this country.
look how handsome they look. I have to be honest, I would have much rather have seen some of the project runway fashions from this week there instead, namely these two:
I wish they would have designed some wicked leotards...
anyway!
What I'm going to watch: Gynmastics (duh), the swimmers, and maybe hand ball -- I'm intrigued.
Let's do this, Beijing!!
time to ease my soul in self-reflection, stupid internet findings, and social commentary.
I'm full of goals, time to get started on them!
