sore shoulders and dream holders

So a first online journal. What to say. Will people read this? Will I read this? Someone is reading this. they must be.

And so.. leaving for South America this monday thats on its way here. two shots in each arm have me feeling immunized but overwhelmed; I feel like I've done well with most goodbyes thus far - some seemed final, some like see-ya-laters, but all satisfactory. This holiday break has been relatively stress-free, though not as relaxing as I'd envisioned, and its almost all passed already. Much like the last six months or so. How did I get here?

This last week has had its share of highs and lows, thankfully I've been able to sit across the table or in a car or on a couch with a lot of Good Ones, people from Way Back When or sometime after, people who make me feel pretty lucky to have them around. Knowing I've got a home with family and friends - spread out, but Always There - makes it pretty easy to leave the country for six months. I'll refrain from quoting Forever Young, mostly because that'd be lame, but I'll mention it because I can't write anything without a Dylan reference. (or perhaps I was sneaking in a Rod Stewart shout-out. You decide) But I have had a series of poignant moments, little bits of profound finding their way into the boredom and the whiskey and the melting snow.

Ran about 7-8 miles yesterday down Lake Shore Drive, looking out over the water; seriously warm. My Ipod lasted a good 40 minutes (usually the old girl only makes it about 20 minutes outside in the wintertime cold). Last run I just went ahead and grabbed my old Sony Walkman, easily 4 times the size of the Ipod, and choose the Dumb and Dumber soundtrack from a dazzling array of cassettes - Joan Osborne, Ace of Base, Meatloaf even. the Blue Oyster Cult. and the classic NKOTB Christmas album. Dumb and Dumber was perfect - Mary Moon (shes an intellectual), a little Shaggy, Butthole Surfers, Hurdy Gurdy Man. A Classic. But back to the yesterday; Somehow the endorphins released while I run make for some really exultant moments - my mood swings with whatever music comes over the headphones a lot more readily than if I'm just sitting around. So I'm thinking about a few things - the tops of mountains, my mom referring to my dad as a 'hunk', scarves, steaks, shakes, etc. But mostly these Good Folks that keep making an impression on me, and I'm smiling so big. Like, well, a Kid at Christmas.

I've decided not to edit this journal. and probably will not in the future either. Thanks for reading (if you are); Subsequent updates will be much more entertaining and well-thought out. Right now I've got little snips of several infectious diseases running around inside as well as a national championship football game on behind me. Then there is the malaria drug that may make me go crazy - or at least have very vivid dreams. A huge cheese wheel on a cardboard slab given me by my grandfather figured prominently in last nights dreamery. tonight, with chemical stimulation, I can't imagine! Anyhow, more to come from the continent below..... (a trail of periods.)