What Makes A Man Hate Another Man

[borlandia]

Melissa (the girl in the car crash from my last post) is doing better.

Her family is being pretty guarded about a lot of details, but from what I understand is the day of the crash, she needed immediate surgery and once they started, things just consistently got worse and they just weren't sure what was going to happen. She made quite a comeback and is still a long ways away, but I'm glad she's rallying.

It was good seeing the family in Portland. Think I'll be back down there in March.

Bit off more than I could chew, running-wise. I took a few days off due to the emotional and mental strain of the leadership meeting. I didn't want to add any physical fatigue. Got in 5 miles on Friday, then did my mountain run (6.5 miles) on Saturday, which was tough, but I got it done. The major error was trying to run 16 today. I could've done it with a couple days rest, but having run the day before, I just didn't have it. After about 12, my body just gave up. I decided I was going to walk the rest but it got colder and colder. My hands became completely numb. I called a cab to bring me home. Slightly bitter about that...I mean, I need to train, which means I need to finish. But...I'm not doing myself any favors if I get myself sick.

I'm flying out of SeaTac this Saturday. I'm hopeful the protesters clashing with the police will have cooled a little by then. We've become kind of the hub of the protests becoming violent and getting into it with the police, who already have a hair trigger around here. I just want to quietly get on my plane and get out of town.

Saw "Hidden Figures" yesterday. It's not an amazing movie, but it is an amazing story. I was really impressed with Janelle Monae, and thought Jim Parsons did a really nice job, too. I think it'll probably get stiffed at the Oscars (there's just too many other heavy-hitting movies out there) but I think it's an untold American story that needs to be heard.

What was really disappointing was the crowd I saw the movie with. At every example of racism, I audibly heard people say "oh wow" and "oh my god". OK. When it comes to racist shit that went down in the 1960s, this was some of the most PG stuff you could come up with. It made me sad that grown people were surprised at that sort of thing. I wish people would just pick up a book and read about this stuff. Just goes to show that our biggest weakness and biggest hurdle to any real progress is just a lack of education and a lack of willingness to get it.

Got another long week at work coming up. Going to need even more mental stamina. Hopefully it calms down a bit after this weekend.

Comments

[omnipotent]

Glad that Melissa is doing a bit better. I don't blame her family for keeping details private.

Hope you are letting your body rest a bit today.

Hoping you can travel without any complications.

I think people have this idea that racism is "dead" and so they're surprised when they see it portrayed in a movie. It makes you wonder just what these folks thought life in the 60s was like.

Just goes to show that our biggest weakness and biggest hurdle to any real progress is just a lack of education and a lack of willingness to get it.

Yes sir, hit the nail on the head.

[gwendraith]

Glad your friend is doing better. Must be a worrying time for her family and friends.

Racism is alive and well in many places. I'd like to think we have less of it here but it does still happen but it's different to the way it is there. I do wonder if some folks live under a rock or have never seen old newsreels, or new ones for that matter, read history books or are just plain blinkered. Bizarre. All I know is that I feel anger when I see in action.

[plicease]

I for one am used to seeing indifference to systemic racism, but not overt segregation. I think that is why it is shocking. Even if (I agree) PG racism.

[helvetica]

Slow and steady! It's good you gave your body a break when it told you to :) It's good to be partient with yourself while training.

I'm glad you liked Hidden Figures! I'm really looking forward to seeing that movie.

[pixelzomblina]

I just read the entry before this and I hope that your friend is doing much better... That is something very scary to be dealing with. I hope it's a speedy recovery on her part. It's true that we can never really be prepared for death.... I missed reconnecting with an old friend by twelve days and that still tears me up inside.