just saying

lord, i suck at this whole blogging thing. not that anyone is reading it consistently to miss it.

life is busy as it was in July. summer is kind of boring, but today's cold, rainy weather reminds me that fall and winter are right around the corner and i should be enjoying the warmer months while i have them. and next wednesday i leave for mexico for a family vacation. i'll return with photos!

here's something new to share with you, though. and it's interesting how one aspect of your life can often lead you in other directions, ones that you might have been seeking, if only subconsciously, as i apparently was.

i've been tiring of the full-time writing scene for some time, but, hesitant to leave my awesome job situation at the Local, i haven't really thought much about another job, and i don't plan to even now. however, i have sought involvement with activities outside of the Local, and have succeeded in joining two amazing causes.

the first is the establishment of a newspaper at germantown high school, which at the moment is still very much in the works. i came across this opportunity by reporting on building blocks, a soon-to-be nonprofit in germantown that helps students in the high schools have access to the arts -- which with the current state of our city, i see as an incredibly important cause right now -- to encourage a healthy release of students' and teenage opinion, energy and emotion. we're going to start a newspaper this year, and i can't wait to be a part of it -- and advising a student paper has been something i have always wanted to do.

the other opportunity came about because of a story i'm doing for city paper -- back on my feet is a nonprofit that was founded only in july... it serves as a running club for homeless men in shelters and rescue missions in philly. the men in these places are already on their own road to recovery and the running club helps make a tangible representation of their commitment and energy, as well as gives them something more to wake up for each day, not to mention the health benefits!

it's amazing because the same time these guys began running regularly, i began running also, on my own, and when i went running with them for the story (at 6 am on wednesday mornings!) i discovered a reason to keep running. not just for myself, but for them, for energy, for health, and with the goal of participating in 5Ks and other races. i don't think i'll ever reach the energy and drive to run a half marathon (13 miles) or anything .... but it is amazing to witness the dedication of these guys who ARE working toward that goal. and it's not just the dedication, but the encouragement that they provide. they are society's stereotypical "down and out" guys, stepping up as leaders and encouraging friends and others to do the same. they are reaching goals they didn't even think they would be able to reach -- and that's directly from their mouths!

what started as an interesting story has become a new project for me, and besides continuing to run with them each week and potentially becoming more involved in the future of the program, i am also organizing a run for them with mugshots (oct 14, come run!!) -- and btw, working at the cafe has been another random path i took for some extra dough that has turned into an extraordinary opportunity for my personal and professional growth.

so anyways, life is good in the moment, i have a lot to live for and do, and it's more than just myself which makes living all the better.

one interesting thing about running with these guys is they see god as their direction and leader. they believe 100% that he's watching over them and directing them. well, i don't so much believe god's chillin' up there watching and judging what i'm doing ... however, these guys have, partially, given ME a little more direction in my life, as will the students I work with at germantown. i don't believe we're in hell or anything, but i do believe we have no idea what's going to happen after our short time here, and right now this little place in which we live needs a lot of help, and there are a lot of people that could benefit from our individual help, and we shouldn't do it to get into heaven or avoid hell -- why not do it for mike and darren and craig, whose day is better simply because you run with them in the morning or give them a run in the wissahickon to look forward to. or do it for the students that without the newspaper club, wouldn't have an outlet for their frustrations would go home to an empty house, or worse, and wouldn't learn the proper avenues for accomplishing resolution peacefully.

just saying... there's a lot we can do right now.