Do You Know That Feeling?

Artwork in background is titled 'Tenderness' by  Sterling Brown

For the love of it....

It's a Saturday morning, 6:35am as I look down at my watch. I'm sitting in a McDonald's in Orlando, Florida after driving a little under 9 hours from Raleigh, NC to my mother's house. The little man and I left Raleigh around 7pm Friday evening arriving at my mom's at 3:50am. Mom greets us at the door and she lets me know the bedroom little tee and I will sleep is ready. I thank her and let her know that I will only lay down for about an hour and will roll out around 5:45am to find a place to go online to watch live track and field in Daegu, South Korea. She ask, does it come on TV and I replied yes, but its taped delayed and I need to see it when its happening live!!! It's the 2011 IAAF World Championships!

My love for track and field has me putting sleep on the back burner... Smh at self, with elation to be the only seated customer in McDonald's on an early Saturday morning to feed my need for speed! Go USA!

BTW, Sally Pearson of Australia just ran incredibly fast in the 1st of 3 semi-final races in the women 100m hurdles. A national record 12.36... Wow! Looking rather unbeatable <= can I can that? Oh well, props to how well she's been racing up to and in these Championships. Well, back to giving the track my full attention.


For the love of it... and I look forward to doing all again for the final day of competition tomorrow morning :-)

"'Hey Dad"

"Hey Dad!"

Lil T at a Washington Nationals Game

When it comes to my son, there's no better feeling than being greeted by those two words. And I didn't think today (Friday, August 26, 2011) I would be greeted by those two words until after school, but to my surprise I got a mid-morning text... <~ (Yes! My 10 year old son who turns 11 at the end of September has a mobile phone courtesy of his mom. I suppose that's the new norm, I'm still adjusting.) Well, the text was a request for me to come have lunch with him today. With elation in my heart and mind I responded "I'll be there!" :-) I couldn't get dressed fast enough to go have lunch with my 6th grade son, because 

as a 5th grader I didn't get an invite. 

Lil Tee with TJ Graham

TJ Graham

I assumed those days were long gone, that I'll be sitting in a school cafeteria eating lunch with him per his request. <~ ~drops head~ I felt like I lost my 'Super Dad' cape because the request that did come, in those famous words.. "Hey Dad" were followed by "...can you see if TJ can come visit my class, have lunch with me? TJ Graham has been like a big brother to him since the day he was born and when Lil Tee found out TJ would be attending NC State to play football, we've gone to almost every home football game to cheer his buddy on. (S/O to TJ Graham, I appreciate you being there for the little man and I enjoyed the joking about you taking my Superman cape). I suppose with him being in 5th grade, he's the big kid on the block and knowing a college football player who made highlight reels on ESPN carries a little more weight than just plain ole dad coming to visit his class and/ or having lunch with him. Understandable, but HEY! I want to forever be his #1 hero. 

Had to throw on my 'Best Dad' Tee.
No I didn't show up with this shirt on,
I threw it on after lunch with Little Tee.
I was feeling super again!

Well, the little man started middle school at the beginning of August and now that he's back in that position of the lower ranks. Maybe, just maybe I'll reclaim my 'Super Dad' cape and come to the rescue. It's the little things like days like this that has me feeling worthy of my weight in gold. I want to be visible in little Tee's life on a daily as much as I can for as long as I can as he continues to grow and become a better man, a better person than his dad someday. It is through him I can see a reflection of me, the good and the bad which gives me an opportunity to in turn be a better father, a better man, a better person. We all know that kids are the biggest sponges and it is my duty as his father to lead by example and I personally feel like I need to correct those behaviors in myself that aren't up to par that I want him to live by. So, with each new day I'm given an opportunity to show the way, I'm working on me so that I can continue to pave the way that lead his growth. 

----------------------------------------------------

"Hey dad, can you come have lunch with me today?" What a great feeling that was to be thought of as he's going about his daily learning. To once again feel that cape around my neck as I make my way to his school.... sign in, slap that visitor sticker on my chest and walk down the halls of his middle school, walk through those cafeteria doors and be greeted by those two words... 

"Hey Dad!"

All is right in my universe again!!!

Oh yeah, one amusing thing happened while we talked and ate. A classmate of his whispered to him, "Ask your dad how much he bench?" That's right, the cape is back on!!!

Inside a Box

'Inside a box'

Inside a box,

Is where my thoughts

Of you reside.

You see,

By keeping' my thoughts of you

Inside a box,

I can store them in a special place

So that when I'm ever in need

Of feeling you near

I will always know

Where to go.

Inside a box,

Is where my thoughts

Of you will remain...

For safe keeping,

Where no outside source

Can taint

Nor paint

A different picture

Of the view

I have of beautiful you.

Inside a box,

Is where my thoughts

Of you dwell...

The one place

I can box up

These feelings

I have for you

So that it don't consume

All my thoughts

And I can't get through

My day because I'm

So wrapped up in

Me some you

Now don't get me wrong

A passing thought or two

Of gorgeous you

Enhance my day

And help me pave the way,

But you must know

That too many thoughts of you

Weigh heavy on my mind,

And If I add a pound

To each thought of you

Through the course of a day

I'd weigh a ton.

Inside a box,

Is where my thoughts

Of you reside...

Because no matter how many times

I open it

To fill it up with more,

No matter how big or small

The thoughts of thee

May be…

This special kind of box

Has an infinite amount of space

That when I'm in need to take you there

I escape all rational thinking,

Allowing all thoughts to roam freely

To embrace you

To love you

Without boundaries.

Inside a box,

Is where I keep

My most prized possession...

My love for you,

And that special place

This box resides...

Is within my heart!

Terry Reese Jr.
(C)

This was a piece I wrote with that loving feeling in my heart. I hope you enjoyed and on that not.. take a listen to my kind of music... I feel these words, Enjoy! 

It's more than a movie!

It's more than a movie!

My Regal Crown Club card and a free movie ticket I've haven't used yet

  That's right, I'm a a Regal Crown Club member... it's a handy item to have in your wallet 

when you go to the movies as much as I do. With each movie ticket purchased or the arm 

and leg I spend at concessions I earn points. Those points earn me different perks 

ranging from a free movie ticket to free concession offers. And 9 times out of 10 I will pass 

on getting refreshments, including my absolute favorite...

An ice cold ICEE! 
If I don't earn something free for the concession.
It's out of principle that I refuse to breakdown and
pay $5-$6 for that thirst quencher, popcorn and/ or candy. So as I pay and receive my ticket for admission, I eagerly await for the reward ticket(s) that bring an even bigger smile to my movie going experience when it reads Free popcorn/ drink! "YES!" And of course the Tiger Woods double fist pump when it's a **Free Movie Ticket**.

Ticket stubs saved well over 10 years

Thanks to the best friend I've gain as a freshman in college (A funny story I'll have to share one day), I started saving my movie stubs when I saw that he did this. I can't remember exactly when I started but since that day... I've saved what looks to be an over abundance of movie stubs, concerts stubs, plays stubs, an occasional sporting event that I thought was an memorable occasion with little me. But it's all about the movie stubs though. The first thing I do when I get home from a movie, I empty my pockets and store my movie stub(s) in my stubs keeper. =>

The blog is appropriately titled... It's more than a movie! Because it's one of my biggest hobbies and if it's a movie in that 'Must See' category I make it my mission to see it opening day/ night. I want to be one of the first to see it and know how the movie fared before I hear others talking about it. Why? Because most people will tell it! I personally, if I've seen a movie, good or bad. Only comments you'll get out of me is..."It's a must see, it's alright, you'll have to be your own judge..." I don't disclose anything about it that I feel might give it away. The suspense, the unveiling of the story, etc.

TYPES OF MOVIES:
I love the guy movies (sci-fi/ action/ super heros, comedy, horror, mystery, drama, based on true stories and I will go to the those other types of movies if I'm accompanying that lovely lady in my life. And for the record if I'm accompanying that lovely lady in my life to a movie I wouldn't go see otherwise. I do make myself totally available to enjoying it.. I just don't have an interest in it for myself. If you get what I mean.

RANDOM SHARE:
Movies I've enjoyed recently.... The Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Transformers, Captain America, you get where this is going... LOL! I haven't been on any date movies of lately so I'll have to think on what I've enjoyed on a date movie... Wow! Haven't been on a date movie in a minute.. so the closest thing I come to a date movie => she'll want to do see.. was sneaking into a theater (Hey! I did pay), a super early matinee during working hours to see, SHH! Don't tell anybody this!.. the movie 'For Colored Girls'... although I hate seeing movies to some degree that make me feel like there aren't any or question myself... 'Am I a good black man?' Because these women have suffered through some tragic things involving the black man. Nonetheless, I allowed myself to feel and enjoyed it. Yes, in a sadden way I enjoyed it! Yeah, I said it! I did all of that so that I could talk about the movie with that lovely lady I would have gone to see it with. ~Shaking my head~... And I'll do it again if it means spending time with that someone special.

MORE RAMBLING:
In closing, let me get back on my 'I'm a man' trip down my movie going experience... still to date. The movie 300 is super high on my all time favorites. Avatar was off the chain and when I thought it couldn't get any better then that.. they continue to surprise me with how they've done the recent hits I've gone to see. To name a few... Batman, Iron Man, X-men, oh yeah... 'Inception!' how can I forget! Incredible movie!
I'll go see just about any movie with Denzel Washington... latest (Book of Eli, The Taking of Pelham 123, Unstoppable, etc.) Oh and the movie 'No Country for Old Men'.. wow! On the comedy end of things.. I enjoyed Martin Lawrence, Chris Rock in Death at a Funeral an oldie but goody 'Life' Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy. And I'm forever looking for that true horror movie and I have to admit I was pleasantly happy with the way 'Insidious' made me feel as I watched it. Yeah, it left me with that queasy feeling of looking over my shoulders, Oh oh, I'm walking into a dark room, or did I just hear something in the other room and I'm the only one home.. LMBO! And I saw it without my absolute favorite movie partner :-( I had to text her immediately to let her know, I found one for us to enjoy together.

And on that note, I close out by simply saying....Thanks for taking this 'Off track...' walk down 'It's more than a movie!' lane with me.

**IMMORTALS** November 11, 2011 can't get here fast enough! 
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=79034 <= I'm on the lookout for the next 'Must See Opening Day/Night' Movie!

42s on my 44th Birthday

 Hurdling 42s on my 44th Birthday

June 20, 2011 marked the 44th year of my birth and over the past few years I've made it a tradition to step foot on a track and take on the 42 inch hurdle to celebrate life, the blessings of having the ability to still overcome the obstacles both off and on the track. As a track and field athlete, my main event was the 110 meters high hurdles and for more than 20 years I've competed in the event from grade school to college (paid my education) to elite level (earned a living doing). Once I gotten passed the point of earning money doing it, I simply kept doing it for the love of the event, the sport, and the benefits I receive from doing it (physical fitness and peace of mind). I competed up to the age of 38 at the US Championships and if not for other obligations I could have kept it going into my 40s.

I get the questions, Why do it? Isn't it taxing to your body? What is it you got to prove? You can't fight father time, face it you're old, you're getting old... The (glory) days are over so why, why why?

My easiest answer to all the questions, the I'm too old for this, etc. is simple... You  have your thing you do that gives you 'peace of mind' and I have mine... and if you don't have that thing that gives you 'peace of mind' you best hurry up and find it. I'm a physical needy kind of person, I like to be on the move so I absolutely love that my job is coaching and I'm outside on a daily working and putting in work to maintain my own health. For me, being physically fit leads to a healthy state of mind as I deal with the ups and downs of life.

Hurdling, is a way of life for us all and I just so happen to have done it for a living on the track and in doing so.. I look at life as a hurdler. The obstacles I face in life is simply another hurdle I'm trained to overcome.

So until that day GOD let me know that the days of running over 42s is over, I'm lacing up the spikes and getting into that 'Ready-set-Go' position and celebrate my way. And yesterday when I stepped off the last hurdle it felt incredibly good to step over in stride all 5 hurdles... YES!

Hurdling over 42 inch hurdles on my 44th birthday was the best gift I could give myself and I thank my Heavenly Father for the gift that keeps me moving forward in spite of the challenges I face.

Hurdler For Life

My 2011 Father's Day thought (Flashback to the day my son was born)

On Sunday June 19, 2011 it's our turn..  that's right! It's Fathers Day and I'm elated to say that for 10 years and some months, I've had the privilege of wearing the hat of dad daily (A full 24 hours, 7 days a week). Through the up and downs (the hurdles seen and unforeseen) the one thing that remain a constant since the day little tee was born, I am a father to a son and for as long as I have God's blessing, His mercy and grace to see another day I'll continue to live up to the challenge of raising a son to be a man, and prayerfully a even better father to his son(s) and/ or daughter(s). 

His mom went into labor on a Monday night around midnight and 14 and half hours later 2:28 pm on Tuesday the 26th day of September 2000, we were blessed with a handsome young prince, Terry Reese III. It wasn't until the moment I held him in my arms that he was named after me. 

Tiger Woods ~fist pump~ YES!

A hungry Baby Tee

Lil Tee's mom had  initially got me to settle for Terrence Jamal Reese before birth.. Whew! Not a fan of that name... But once I held him in my arms and looked her in the eyes when the nurse asked us what will be the name of our blessing. I got my wish to name him after my father and I. See picture =>

Random father and son moments through the years (2000 - 2011)

Daddy Tee and Afro lil tee

Back to school - 3rd grade

A Day at the Office (Paul Derr Track)

Yeah! We big like that!

Workout time at Paul Derr Track

At the neighborhood park

Father's Day/ Birthday Dinner at Kickback Jacks June 20, 2010

In Buffalo, NY

Dad and Baby Tee

Each One, Teach One

Father's day 2009

At the park

Kings Dominion July 2010

Incredible ride

This was too fun (1 hour 30 minute wait time for front row)

Before going into Kings Dominion

Fathers and sons King Dominion July 2010

Duke Twilight 2010

Wolfpack Football 2010

Wolfpack 2010 Champs Sports Bowl Game (Orlando, Florida)

Snow day

October 28, 2010 - Wolfpack 28 - FSU 24

NC State baseball vs VA Tech 2010

At the park