THAT LEMONADE TASTES GOOD!!!

"I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity!" ~ Gilda Radner


2009 has turned out to be one of the most intriguing years of my life. If I would have tried to predict the course that it would have taken, I would have been SO wrong! If someone would have told me that I would partially tear and then completely tear my Achilles, that I would have had surgery, that I would not have competed in a single outdoor long jump competition, that I would not have competed in my 10th World Championships, that I would've experienced personal emotional ups and downs, that I would have joined Facebook lol or that I would/could go 8 months without working out at all and still maintain my 6 pack:-), I would have laughed at them over and over again and called them insane!

The fact is, not only have I gone through all that stuff, but I am probably happier than I have been in a long, long time. Sometimes it takes a huge upheaval or change in your life's plan for things to become clear. Our plans are not always His and sometimes without our understanding, we see the blessing that it truly is in the end. My injury forced me to slow down, literally and figuratively. To "smell the roses". To see what else life has to offer aside from track and field and long jumping and rest and lifting weights and traveling. For the past decade and a half, that's ALL I've known! Crazy, when you think about it.

I've become more social, I started playing the piano/keyboard again and I've joined the Women's choir at my church. I've met new people that have nothing to do with track in particular or sports in general. I've spent time with my friends and seen my parents a lot. I've been to dinner and the movies and bowling. I've been to every other comedy club in LA and laughed my head off. I've been to parties and the beach and I've had the time to develop some meaningful relationships.

I've become a Health & Wellness coach. Because of that, my nutrition, which I thought I knew a lot about, has improved significantly and I have to say is the sole reason that I attribute my current physique to. Who knew that you could be as lean and toned as you are from training 3-4 hrs a day just by following a particular nutrition program?? I certainly didn't but I'm so glad that I know now and I love sharing that with people. In that vein, I now co-run a Wellness program at an architectural firm in Santa Monica, with others to come and just got my proposal approved to run a similar program at my church where there is truly a great need.

I went to the Robin Thicke concert last night on a last minute whim and it was OK because I didn't have practice early this morning and so I could come home whenever. Ooooh that concert was fantastic! Love that guy:-) Yes, I've been inconvenienced by my injury and who knows whether my track career is officially over or whether I will be able to go out next year as I had planned, competing and enjoying my beloved sport and officially retiring at the end of 2010. I sure am gonna try but you know what this year has helped me to realize? That I will be OK either way. I've given my all to track and field and so in that regard, I have absolutely no regrets.

Life has a funny way of showing who's in charge and handing out those lemons. But I've made the heck outta some lemonade this year and I am REALLY looking forward to 2010. I know that bigger, better, even more satisfying and fulfilling experiences await me. New opportunities, new adventures, new goals. I'm excited to wake up every day because it just feels more and more like this puzzle that I call life is slowly being pieced together. And I am living and loving every moment of it!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL!

SADE - SOLDIER OF LOVE

Back in the day, I used to LOVE Sade! Her music just made and still does make me feel a certain way:-) I've always looked at her and thought she was beautiful, exotic, mysterious, enchanting. It's been a long time since we've heard from her but she's back! This song Soldier of Love is the first single from her upcoming album Fair Use which is set to be released in February. Can't wait!! Maybe I can be like her when I grow up one day, lol!

In the meantime, wet your appetite with this beast of a song. If this doesn't get you feeling right, then I don't know what will....Enjoy!

BIG TIMER!!!!

So I know throughout the many posts that I've written, you've heard me mention the name of my friend, my boy, my pal Chris Spencer. Not only is he a great friend to me, but he's a great father and husband and he's a GREAT comedian! He always emphasizes the fact that he is NOT a comic, he's a comedian. The quote from Milton Berle that he says is, "Comics are people that say funny things. Comedians are people that make things funny".

Anyway, tonight @ 10:30pm at The El Portal Theater in North Hollywood, Chris will be doing the live taping for his upcoming Showtime Special "The Other Chris".



I'm SO happy for him! He's done so much in his career but usually he's the guy introducing everybody else, with mini sets in between the different comedians or he's hosting some charity event or dinner. The thing is, even though he doesn't usually headline, he is often the guy behind the scenes, being "The Other Chris", writing for many of the awards shows or writing jokes for Chris Rock and Jamie Foxx while those guys get all the credit.

Back in the day he hosted The Vibe Show after Arsenio Hall went off the air and he used to be on the Jamie Foxx Tv show. He's been in several movies and commercials on TV but tonight it will be his time to shine and I'm pretty doggoned excited about it. I'm not sure when it's gonna air on Showtime but you can rest assured that I will let you all know when that date is. I'm sure he's gonna be awesome!

If any of you live in the LA area, you might wanna check it out!

***This past week I decided to join the Women's Choir at my church, First AME. A long time ago, I used to sing in a couple different choirs and it's been something I've wanted to do again for a quite a while but someone has finally given me the motivation to do it, without them even knowing that they've inspired me so I just want to say thank you, thank you so much for making me remember how much I love to sing.***

POTPOURRI.....

So things have been going pretty well in the life and times of JE....I really can't complain. I'm pretty much done with my walking boot for the most part unless I have a lot of walking to do, which puts me a whole 2 weeks ahead of schedule and rehab has begun. Woohoo!!!

Last night, I attended So Phresh and So Clean which the one and only Chris Spencer hosted. (I was able to wear a pair of heels again - both feet!:-) It was a mix of up and coming singers performing and then comics doing stand-up between the different sets. One of my friends, Andre Pitre, was singing too and so it was good to catch up with him. Here is a pic of him for all you ladies out there.....



....and yes he is single, 6' 2", 33 yrs old, so if anyone is interested, please send me your resumes lol!! And he sings pretty good too....He'd probably kill me if he knew I had him all up on here like this LOL. Oh well....

My business partner Peggy and I continue to work on our current Design project/job which is still in the initial stages where we're doing drawings, presentations and a lot of the preliminary leg work that has to be done as far as health and business codes when it comes to Commercial Projects.

As much as I have really tried to avoid having any public opinion about the whole Tiger Woods situation, I have to say that I have been somewhat...ok maybe a lot irked by the media, press, tabloids over the past couple of days. First let me put out a disclaimer...****As woman who has been cheated on and lied to by some men that I have dated, I in no way, shape or form, condone, justify, accept, rationalize, tolerate what Tiger did to his wife. That pain cuts deep and the amount of pain, hurt and embarrassment that he has inflicted on her and his family is probably unfathomable and his life and image will forever be changed. As a fellow Stanfordite, I would expect this man to have some more sense, integrity, lol.****

HOWEVER...if my/your name is not Elin, Kultida (his mom), his kids, or Jesus, then I am of the opinion that it's nobody's business but his!!! He does not owe us an explanation regarding his personal failings. He did nothing illegal. He is not our pastor, President, leader, moral compass. He is not a judge, family counselor, or idol. He is a man, who is an athlete, who happens to be exceptionally good at what he does. End of story. If his sponsors require something of him, I could see that. But Joe Schmoe public, Please?? Does the multi-million dollar CEO of some Wall Street company have to go public and confess his extra-marital sins to the public? No, so why should someone else have to do it?

As for the chicks who have come forth with all these texts and the voicemail.....SMH...no comment!

Yesterday, Jim Rome on ESPN's Rome is Burning said that if Tiger Woods didn't want to have to explain his private life and if he didn't want people invading his privacy "he should've never picked up a golf club". REALLY? It just burns me up that people feel they have the right to people's intimate life just because they are famous/popular. Anyway, let me leave this topic alone, I think I've made my point LOL! All I can say is I hope he and his family are able to work everything out one way or another and find some peace and stability.

Well, I better start thinking about my Christmas shopping. I'm not really a last minute shopper but I also don't buy gifts in November either so I better get on it and get my ideas together.

Hope everyone is doing well, feeling blessed....