Wednesday, February 21

Ash Wednesday

The Latin phrase, "Memento homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris." means "Remember human, that you are dust, and you will return to dust." It's a phrase inspired by Biblical passages and often used during Ash Wednesday services. Contrary to others' ideas, it does not mean, "Eat steak, die happy."

Sunday, February 18

Missed Bops

The Ditty Bops are coming back to Milwaukee, and they'll be playing at Shank Hall, which is three blocks from my apartment. But, alas, I will be in Europe.

Oh yeah - I'm going to Europe - in three weeks. With Felecia and Charley. We're taking it by storm. Flight into Frankfurt, train to Paris, stay there for 3 nights. Travel to Belgium, stay there one night. Train to Amsterdam, enjoy the local culture, stay a night or two and then make our way back to Frankfurt for our flight back.

Sunday, February 11

Things I have learned from the Anna Nicole Smith Media Coverage

1. Zsa Zsa Gabor is still alive.

2. Virility Points earned by fathering a child with a former Playboy Playmate are easily lost when the paternity is questioned by, among others, a dead 90 year-old.

3. White men also take royalty as their first names.

4. Giving a baby two names, but melding them together only makes them difficult to pronounce. "Dannielynn." Is it Dannielle Lynn, Dannie Lynn, Dannielle In, or something completely different?

5. I continue to love NPR, who have not yet done a story on this.

Saturday, February 10

Fourteen

I can't believe 14 degrees feels so warm.

Monday, February 5

Long John

The thermometer in my apartment says 65 degrees - Fahrenheit. I cooked dinner tonight, just to have an excuse to turn on the stove. Now I'm going to iron my clothes - again.

I wore my long underwear to work today. I only have one pair. Would it be that terrible to wear them two days in a row?

Sunday, February 4

You spin me right round, baby.

I wish I had a good story about my recent Spinning exploits along the lines of the very funny "Crotch Machine of Death" story from Adina. But I don't.

My story is that normally I am in the pool, swimming 50 laps, every day by 6:30 am. However, for the past two weeks, I have been going to the 6 a.m. Spinning class on Thursday mornings. Terra, the instructor is very friendly and fit. She gets us moving slowly, but I'm a sweaty mess by the end of the class. I don't fall off the machine, and I don't make any embarrassing sounds when we "go up another hill." Even though I do want to ask her why we never just "coast down a hill." That's my favorite part of a bike ride and, I think, if we're simulating a real ride, every part should be represented.

Joining the spinning class has shown me how much of a regular I have become at the gym though. The first time I took the class I was surprised at how many people noticed that I had missed my regular swim. And one guy, who has never talked to me previously, asked me for my opinion of the class. He had been nervous about joining it and wanted to know what it's like for a beginner. I didn't mind answering his questions, because he was wearing clothes, which is more than what can be said about other chatty guys in the locker room.

How can I make it known that I only want to talk to other guys if we are both wearing pants? And why do I seem to be one of the few people who feel this way!?

Stay tuned for a future post, in which I will tell you about my Pilates class.