Running

Running in the morning is good.
Running in the morning works my legs.
It works my lungs.
My heart.
It works my laziness,
when I don't want to get out of bed.

Running makes orange juice taste better.
Running is super darn fine.

Running

Running in the morning is good.
Running in the morning works my legs.
It works my lungs.
My heart.
It works my laziness,
when I don't want to get out of bed.

Running makes orange juice taste better.
Running is super darn fine.

The Playground

The playground is large.
Two trees dance in the wind.
The twisted grey trunks climb into the sky speckled with orange peeling bark.
Sand covers the ground.

Two trees dance in the wind.
Swaying masses of green leaves throw speckled grey shadows.
Sand covers the ground.
Red bars look like a fire truck.

Swaying masses of green leaves throw speckled grey shadows.
Ghost leaves swim in unison over the sand like a school of silver fish.
Red bars look like a fire truck.
Black rubber tires sit frozen on the ground.

Ghost leaves swim in unison over the sand like a school of silver fish.
Children glide over little waves of sand.
Black rubber tires sit frozen on the ground.
They dream of being free.

Children glide over little waves of sand.
They climb and swing and slide,
They dream of being free.
Children are attached to the playground.

They climb and swing and slide.
Yellow monkey bars stand next to a sliding pole.
Children are attached to the playground.
It takes so long to grow up.

Yellow monkey bars stand next to a sliding pole.
The twisted grey trunks climb into the sky speckled with orange peeling bark.
It takes so long to grow up.
The playground is large.

Lenten Cookbooks

At some point during the fast, most people have occaision to check out or think about those Lenten Cookbooks up on the shelf. The shelf may be in your kitchen or in your church bookstore, but one thing is always the same. They are always exotic. Recipes include weird sounding words like pirog or babganoush. And, hey. That's ok with me. I'm open to new things (really, they're so useful during lent that they don't really feel exotic anymore, anyway.) But, sometimes, a person just wants some home food.
That's why I've decided to make my own lenten cook book. I will call it -- "Lent: Orange County Style."
Here are a couple of possible entries that I might include:

1. "Vegetarian Burritos"

Step One:
Drive to Taco Bell
Step Two:
Say "No, thanks" when the kind tape recorded voice offers you some evil bacon and sour cream temptation of the week.
Step Three:
When ordering, say exactly these words (add lib at your own risk)
"I would like two bean and cheese burritos with green sauce, no cheese."
You may substitute "one" for "two", or "red" for "green", but whatever you do, don't just ask for a "burrito."
If you feel lucky, ask for a side of chips, but usually, you have to end up ordering the "nachos" and tossing that cup of yellow orange petroleum distilate they try to pass off as cheese, and which you should get merit points for eating without a court order.

Best eaten on the way home from a late night service.


2. "Bean and Rice Burrito"

Step One: Drive to El Pollo Loco (wear nose plugs unless you are a year round vegetarian type)
Step Two: Order a # 6 BRC Burrito (Beans, Rice, Cheese) with guacamole inside, no cheese.
Step Three: Add yummy salsa on the side.

3. This one, I like to call: "Variations on a Theme"

Step One: Drive to Jack-in-the-Box
Step Two: When ordering, say "Can you give me directions to the nearest Taco Bell?"