Bumpy week and a date request from a superhero

I was glad when I made it to Galveston today and saw some small, but rideable waves. I needed some surf time, which ended up being quite cathartic and a great ending to a rough week. I don't really want to go into it in this blog right now, but, although the week started rather smoothly, it was quite bumpy during the rest of it. I experienced extreme sadness this week, but I'm fairly certain that I would not change a thing. I learned a few things about myself and about others. I'm proud that I didn't seek complete strangers' approval, but I am also disappointed that I didn't hold my ground on one thing.

I can't get one part of my week out of my mind. It's a quote I heard, one that was originally written by Tolstoy in "Anna Karenina": "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." Wow!

Originally, I thought I would surf during the week, but it didn't work out. I was glad I got to go today though. By the time I arrived after work, Brian had completed his lesson, Robin had already been surfing several hours and Angie was almost ready to leave. I surfed with all of them for about an hour before they all ditched me to wrap up their lives for the week. So, I had the waves almost to myself. One other surfer had arrived about 30 minutes after I had gotten there. The surfer had a kid with him. He had the kid on a longboard, while he sat beside the kid on a short board. The tattooed surfer was trying to teach the kid how to surf. He explained to me that the kid was a friend's kid. After a some small talk, he asked me what kind of music I liked. Having not been asked out in many, many years, I had forgotten the small talk and was then completely caught off guard when the guy asked me if he could get my phone number and take me to a concert. It was a wonderful invitation and ending to a sad week! His name was Bruce Wayne...just like Batman. He laughed when I said that and told me he gets that comparison alot. I wonder what it would have been like to date a superhero. My thanks to Bruce! I'm sure I'll be seeing him again at the 43rd street jetty.

A surfing ad

Well, I've had some exciting events happen to me lately. I found out last week that I was in Glamour magazine with two of my friends and co-workers. (We had all three gone to the next to last shuttle launch at mission control and one of the ladies brought a Glamour magazine so that we could have our picture taken. She submitted the photo and it got published. We were on page 24 of the August issue.) Then, today, the August edition of the local tabloid, The Parrot, came out and I'm in an ad...a surfing ad. It's really funny, and funny-looking. It's an ad for Brian's Jetty 43 surf camp. I had no idea I was going to be in the ad. He chose two old pics (from last year and the year before) of me to put in the ad, which is really funny. Me in a surfing ad!

I didn't get to surf on Friday. There were no waves, and Brian didn't like bringing a SUP , which is okay for me since I was pretty tired anyway. I took the afternoon off, since I had ridden my bike to work that day and knew that I had a 5-mile run and 50+-mile ride on Saturday. I needed the rest.

Today (Sunday), however, I did take my 9' Softop "Iris" and make a go out of the small, but clean waves that were breaking on the inside. The waves were perfect for me to practice turning. I believe, though, that I prefer a much stronger and bigger wave. I can't believe I'm saying that, but I'm learning that the stronger the wave (not necessarily bigger), the easier it is to get up. I had a number of good rides today, but I also had a wipe out, which is embarrassing when the wave is only a half-a-foot big. Nevertheless, I had fun!

Fun...it seems I'm always looking for ways to have fun. And, I do most times. I get my feelings hurt; that's for sure. But, I strive not to hurt others. I hope I'm successful, but I'm not sure I always am. And, I know that, probably, others don't try to hurt me. Lately, I've been remembering a quote that was found in the diary of Anne Frank. The quote is probably overused, but I still can't help but feel good when I think of it. I realize it is quite Pollyanna of me, but it helps me... "In spite of everything, I still think people are good at heart." For no reason, this quote popped into my head today while surfing. Actually, while out in the water, especially before the beach fills up with people and I'm out either alone or with only one or two other people, I have time to reflect on life. Today, once the beach started filling up with vacationers as well as the local beach-goers, I looked around as I surfed, and I know that what Anne Frank said is true. People are good.