(no, it wasn’t a big wheel – 4-wheel – working engine and all – and yes, when it’s a billion degrees outside and you’re an hour into a run, you do look for small things to movitate yourself – that or you hallucinate the whole thing…)

“3 and out” – there was a coach – richrod was his name – actually, Rich Rodriguez – long time ago, he almost became the head coach at alabama – thankfully, he didn’t – he became michigan’s coach – and this writer watched the program fall apart during the three years – he got inside access – i enjoyed the read – anything to get me ready for college football season – and sort of scout bama’s first opponent…

“another season” – gene stallings was bama’s coach when i first arrived on campus – he wrote a book in ’97 about his son – john mark – who had down syndrome (john mark passed away within the last five years) – the book was written to help the RISE center on campus – it tells about stallings’ coaching career – and about john mark’s fragile life – amazing book that i read 14 years ago – and read again this week – i noticed my granddad’s copy on my grandmother’s shelf – my granddad’s been gone for eight years now so it was special to read one of the last books he understood

moved into politics afterwards – ronald reagan’s diaries – i’m in ’85 so three years to go – big book – i’ll save impressions for next week

and season two of friday night lights is almost finished – not sure that english teacher should’ve given julie “the world according to garp” – i’m not sure i’m ready to read it

AND!!! best news of all – i sort of have my very own kenyan orphan now!!! marvin o

happy week

maf