Pride and Dog Poop

January 12, 2014.Reading time 1 minute.

After a rainy Saturday, the weather here is nice today. So I went to our local greenway for an eight miler. I’m not in marathon shape at present, but I’m still running a few times a week. Anyway, the greenway runs through some very low lying, swampy areas and can be extremely wet after a good rain.

On this occasion, there were patches of ice on the boardwalk that nearly caused me to slide. I made it through fine and got about a 1/2 mile away when I saw a gaggle of women runners coming my direction. I quickly wiped the snot and slobber off of my face and straightened my form to show off my best running posture before they got too close. Just as I was about to gallantly warn them about the icy conditions, my left foot hit a pile of dog poop carelessly left on the trail.

So instead of being a heroic herald to these ladies, I was comedic relief. Oh, it didn’t end with a small slide. I gave them a full highlight reel of Shaggy and ScoobyDoo slipping on a banana peel and nearly knocked a couple of them over as my 210 lb frame came barreling through.

So even before church today, I learned two things:

1. A man’s pride shall bring him low… (Proverbs 29:23)

2. People really should clean up after their pets. These stands are out there every 1/2 mile or so.

2013 – I Did What?

January 1, 2014.Reading time 3 minutes.

Some random thoughts from Portsong on the year that was.

Woke up 365 times – I will never take that for granted.
Celebrated 21^st anniversary of marriage to Mrs. Perfect, the most patient woman in the world.
Got to build three theater sets at Lambert High School, where the kids call me #PartyMark and mercifully treat me like I’m not too old (even though I usually don’t have my hearing aids in while I’m working, so I can’t even hear them).
Although I’m not in marathon shape anymore, I cranked out enough 10 and 12 milers to know I could get there again.
Made a friend named James while working with a homeless ministry that provides blankets, socks, and gloves any night the temp goes under 30 degrees. I pray for you daily, brother.
Published my first book, Virgil Creech Takes a Swipe at Redemption. Reviews are positive thus far, some from people I’m not related to!
Got Shadowbanned by Reddit – really means nothing, but it sounds so cool.
Started this blog in October, which has been viewed 1623 times by people in 36 countries, and somehow has 90 followers. Finally hit the last continent with a reader from Brazil in December. Being a geography nerd, this little map thing makes me so very happy!

Held a Virgil Gives Back event where December proceeds were so donated to Heart for Africa. Sales were so embarrassingly low we had to round (way) up to make the donation worthwhile – but it was fun to organize.
In pursuit of readers, I joined an amazing group called Clean Indie Reads, interacted with a book-reading ape, and have made cyber-friendships with talented writers from all over the world.
Built a following of 1626 on Twitter, almost exclusively made of people trying to hawk books just like me.
Am one of the only men on Pinterest, the only grown-up on tumblr, and I now have a cursory knowledge of MS Word formatting, Digg, Stumbleupon, and Bitly.
On a personal note, I’m thrilled to have accomplished the goal of printing my first book. It is something I’ve always wanted to do and the third I’ve written, with the others locked away. I don’t enter this world of publishing with expectations of fame and fortune, but I do have an expectation of experience. Thus far, I’ve not been disappointed. On some level, we all want to be heard. If you’re still reading this, thanks for hearing me – I hope I can return the favor.

Blessings for a wonderful 2014!