Don't Think Twice, It's Alright

It ain’t no use to sit and wonder why, babe
It don’t matter, anyhow
An’ it ain’t no use to sit and wonder why, babe
If you don’t know by now
When your rooster crows at the break of dawn
Look out your window and I’ll be gone
You’re the reason I’m trav’lin’ on
Don’t think twice, it’s all right

It ain’t no use in turnin’ on your light, babe
That light I never knowed
An’ it ain’t no use in turnin’ on your light, babe
I’m on the dark side of the road
Still I wish there was somethin’ you would do or say
To try and make me change my mind and stay
We never did too much talkin’ anyway
So don’t think twice, it’s all right

It ain’t no use in callin’ out my name, gal
Like you never did before
It ain’t no use in callin’ out my name, gal
I can’t hear you anymore
I’m a-thinkin’ and a-wond’rin’ all the way down the road
I once loved a woman, a child I’m told
I give her my heart but she wanted my soul
But don’t think twice, it’s all right

I’m walkin’ down that long, lonesome road, babe
Where I’m bound, I can’t tell
But goodbye’s too good a word, gal
So I’ll just say fare thee well
I ain’t sayin’ you treated me unkind
You could have done better but I don’t mind
You just kinda wasted my precious time
But don’t think twice, it’s all right

Taking Up The Family Business

During my younger years when I was running miles at St. Johns I always remember coming up to a bush, political yard sign, or anything for that matter, and would yell out “Steeple!” and hurdle the object. The Steeplechase has always been kind of the glamor event of track and field for me. I’ve always wanted to run it since watching Jeremy in college meets when I was a young adolescent. It had always intrigued me and for the first time ever, I’m going to give it a go.

This year has been a huge stepping-stone for Shawnee State running program. For the first time in school history we are officially a varsity track program. We are able to compete, and score at meets, including conference and All-Ohio. What this also means is that we are able to qualify, individually, for the NAIA Track & Field National Championships. As long as we hit either an “A” standard, or a “B”standard in a particular event we are qualified to go. In the 5000 meters the A standard is 14:45, and the B standard is 14:59. For the 3000 meter Steeplechase the A standard is 9:20, and the B standard is 9:29.

Originally going into the year I had hopes (and still do) for running sub 15, but the more I look into the steeple there is something inside of me that wants to go after it. Not having much of any hurdle practice, and no racing experience at all I have a lot of work to do. Recently, I’ve done some research and came across this Canadian named Dave Korell who wrote a good article with precise description of drills and training for the Steeplechase. Starting Wednesday I will be doing hurdle drills and steeple specific weight training two times a week.

My first opening steeple will be March 26 at Cedarville. I’d like to work up to breaking 9:30 hopefully as early in the season as possible, in hopes of qualifying for Nationals on May 26. Thirty-two days and starting from scratch… this should be fun.

-BJW

Just Say No

The argument between just war and just peace is one that has been going on since the history of mankind. It can be broken down by different examples. Rather it is the major wars in our history, or more simply everyday occurrences we encounter on a day to day basis. In these situations one may be forced to make quick, but painstaking decisions to basically defend, or attack. To attack, push forward with all your countries power, and proclaim war one might say, is the right thing to do. In the opposing side, it takes a lot of courage and dignity to say “No”. Peace has been something a lot of countries and citizens of those countries have been fighting countless hours and years for, and with that one quick decision to attack, so many people’s hopes and dreams can come crashing down in a second.

When September 11, 2011 happened it had a dramatic effect on our country. We were completely blindsided by Afghanistan’s al-Qaeda, whose leader Osama Bin Laden, lead a terrorist attack on the United States. Our country was forced to make a decision, and after we got back on our feet, seven days later Former US president Bush, signed the joint resolution and began sending troops over to invade Afghanistan. In my opinion, this “War” had some justification to it. As a strong united country, we cannot be attacked and do nothing about it. President Bush’s decision to attack Afghanistan was the right thing to do. It had a reasonable cause, and after a short two months the Taliban was forced to retreat.

This should have been the end of it. We sought after revenge and took down the rebel group that attacked our country. It was a means to an end, and in my opinion, after we established a peace that should have been it. In March of 2002, the United States shifted their focus on another rebel rousing country Iraq. The US was given notice of “Weapons of Mass Destruction”, and 12 months later President Bush issued troops to invade Iraq, in hopes of finding and dismantling these weapons. Another priority was to take down Saddam Hussein and his regime. A lot of people believe that the United State Government used this as an excuse to send over military in hopes of finding oil. Since oil is one of the major importing and exporting products in the world and is very sought after, we could take advantage of the invasion of Iraq and take as much oil as we could to help finically support or “War on Terror”.

As the years of fighting and invasions continue, the “Weapons of Mass Destruction” never came about. People were starting to ask questions and began questioning the Presidents motive. The “War on Terror” in Iraq started to go downhill, as the country kept digging itself into deeper and deeper debt, and had nothing to show for it. This invasion had somewhat of an obscure reason going into it, and it seemed to have no end in sight.

To date, there has been a total amount of 4,287 US Military causalities in Iraq. This long drawn out invasion has had little to show for it. In Afghanistan, we aimed to defend and reestablish peace, and to take down terrorist that attacked our country in 2001. It had a cause and had a means to an end. In Iraq, I believe our sights going into the war were set on taking down Saddam Hussein and his corrupt officials. As the war went on, our intensions shifted into something else entirely.

War can sometimes, in strict situations, be justified by having a strong outlook and it the long run, must be sought after reestablishing peace amongst other countries. War cannot be something we create and make the first decision to go into. War must be a last resort. As a country of high power, we must always seek to find peace between foreign and domestic countries. It is said best by an artist who died at a young age, “All we are saying is give Peace a chance”.

February 2nd, 2011

Growing up, I had the privilege to have three older brothers who I've learned a lot from. I learned how take some hits, how to enjoy my youth, but more importantly I got introduced to a lot of good music before I even knew what good music was. A band I grew up to appreciate was The White Stripes. I remember listening to a couple songs in particular Expecting and Seven Nation Army are a couple that stand out.


I guess you could say I started to get “obsessed” when I was a sophomore in high school. I learned every lyric and was always repeating the beat of a certain tone almost everyday. My youth was filled with Jack White guitar riffs and Meg’s rhythmic beating of the drums. Over the years I grew a deep appreciation of the band and when their last cd Icky Thump came out in 2007, when I was a senior, I told myself I had to see the White Stripes perform live. After a cancellation in the middle of their 2007 tour I was never given the chance. So, after Jack created these “side projects” I got my fix by watching the Raconteurs at Bonnaroo in 2008, and The Dead Weather in Columbus in 2009 and at Bonnaroo in 2010. Still, it was not the same. I’ve always hoped that Jack and Meg would get back together for a seventh cd and would make another run for it. Over the years, I was leaning back on this concept and believed this day would come…


Five days ago, my dreams came smashing down. It was announced that The White Stripes were no longer a band. They came out and said they are officially no longer going to be performing live or create any knew material. My heart sank. All my youth was filled with the beautiful melodies, from the Detroit hard guitar rock, to the soft but slick guitar licking Tennessee blues.


So what we are left with is 6 cds to get us through some hard days of life. We must not let this band die, just because they are done, does not mean they cannot live on. I plan on still listening to these two musicians for a long long time, and perhaps someday they will have a reunion… One can hope.


I believe Jack says it best,

 “The White Stripes do not belong to Meg and Jack anymore. The White Stripes belong with it whatever you want. The beauty of art and music is that it can last forever if people want it to. Thank you for sharing this experience. Your involvement will never be lost on us and we are truly grateful.”

Long Live The White Stripes
-BJW

physiology 101

Every mile, every interval, every step now has a deeper meaning and purpose behind it. That silly number just become that much more important...


man on man, am I really gonna do this?


"A true Runner ran even when he didn't feel like it, and raced when he was suppose to, without excuses and with nothing held back. He ran to win and would die in the process,running to him was real, the way he did it the realest thing he knew... hard as diamond,it made him weary beyond comprehension, but it also made him free."


- BJW