I started working out a bit more this summer, adding some biking trips (rule: get bike to a path, ride in a single direction as hard as possible into the wind for 1 hour, then return) to my regimen. And I also started running 1 to 2 times a week, no more than 1 hour at a time. And I lost some weight (15-20 pounds depending how you account for it).
I decided that, because of my propensity for profuse sweat, I needed to start layering my workout uniform. Thus began the search for those spandex/lycra/nylon-lyra-spandex-mix shirts that those runners/cyclists wear. Folks wearing those clothes never look like sweaty pigs. Sweaty pigs like me.
I found and purchased a particular shirt that appeared to be my size. I didn't try it on in the store for a number of uninteresting reasons, but when I got home I threw it on just before dinner (and a later workout that night).
It's a tight shirt. It's tight enough that it cannot be removed without reversing it. It's not ridiculously tight - it doesn't leave marks on my skin or anything.
My appearance at the dinner table drew double-takes from both my wife and teenaged daughter. "Wow," my daughter gasped, "it's kinda wrong when your dad is chiseled." My wife scanned me like a construction worker scans a pretty office blond and added, "Wow, you are looking good."
Bolstered by this unsolicited praise, I checked myself in the mirror after my workout that night. With the shirt on - yeah, I'm kinda chiseled. Not quite ready for the Body Armour ad, but there's definitely a muscular, manly shape there.
Then I removed the shirt. "Hey, where'd it go?" Suddenly all the flabby parts covering my six-pack abs re-appeared. My chiseled-ness had vanished.
"Oh my God, I'm an idiot. It's the shirt." The shirt shapes my body, tightening in the right spots, nudging the malleable flesh into areas that then appear muscular. It's like a push-up bra for men!
Then I began noticing just how common this phenomenon is. Because of my wife I know that there are about 72 kinds of underwear for women that "shape" their bodies. Now there are for men too. And when I began to really look for the lycra-shaped people, there they were, all around me. I'd never noticed before.
We have become a society of lycra-shaped people, well on our way to becoming the morbidly obese, amorphous blobs featured in the Pixar film Wall-E.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Monday, December 01, 2008
Has it been 8 months already?
Dear Weblog
Obviously it's been an embarrassingly long time since my last post. I contemplated starting a completely new blog in shame. Here are some of the things that have happened since we last spoke:
1. Went to a Packer game at Lambeau field in Janary. Gametime temp: -3 with -33 windchill. There's a whole post in there somewhere, maybe someday I'll get to it before I forget all the good details.
2. There was cancer in the family.
3. There was more cancer in the family.
4. There was a death in the family.
5. I started working out more often and lost some weight.
6. I read a whole bunch of good books, the best of which was What is the What by Dave Eggers, about a refugee from the Darfur region of Sudan.
7. I completed a thrilling treetops course at an environmental camp that I attended with my son.
8. I decided to dial back the amount of energy I expend at work.
I'm working on the family Christmas letter now, so hopefully that will spur on some other blogging.
Phil
Obviously it's been an embarrassingly long time since my last post. I contemplated starting a completely new blog in shame. Here are some of the things that have happened since we last spoke:
1. Went to a Packer game at Lambeau field in Janary. Gametime temp: -3 with -33 windchill. There's a whole post in there somewhere, maybe someday I'll get to it before I forget all the good details.
2. There was cancer in the family.
3. There was more cancer in the family.
4. There was a death in the family.
5. I started working out more often and lost some weight.
6. I read a whole bunch of good books, the best of which was What is the What by Dave Eggers, about a refugee from the Darfur region of Sudan.
7. I completed a thrilling treetops course at an environmental camp that I attended with my son.
8. I decided to dial back the amount of energy I expend at work.
I'm working on the family Christmas letter now, so hopefully that will spur on some other blogging.
Phil
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Book Update
Books I've read since the last book post:
A History of Pi by Petr Beckmann. Nonfiction.
About: the history of my favorite constant, pi.
My thoughts: Written in the 1970's, updated in the 1980's, a history from the beginning of time about who figured out how to calculate pi, and how accurate they were. This books combines 2 of my favorite subjects - history and math. As my friend Tim aptly observed, "Sticky pages - lots of sticky pages for Phil."
Lasting Image: The Romans were thugs. Sir Isaac Newton had a larger impact on the scientific world than Einstein. In fact, after centuries of inadequate definition by dozens of mathematicians, Newton mathematically described pi as an afterthought, needing it to prove one of his laws of physics. Think of that - after dozens of brilliant folks labored untold hours, Newton said "Oh, by the way, here's pi". And it sat in his desk for nearly a decade until a colleague convinced him it was worth publishing!
Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris. Nonfiction.
About: a collection of short stories themed around Christmas.
Lasting Image: 1. David working as an elf in Macy's Santaland. A group of severely retarded visitors came one day, and David realized afterward that he could no longer differentiate them from the "normal" visitors.
2. Perhaps the most wickedly funny holiday newsletter I've ever read.
A History of Pi by Petr Beckmann. Nonfiction.
About: the history of my favorite constant, pi.
My thoughts: Written in the 1970's, updated in the 1980's, a history from the beginning of time about who figured out how to calculate pi, and how accurate they were. This books combines 2 of my favorite subjects - history and math. As my friend Tim aptly observed, "Sticky pages - lots of sticky pages for Phil."
Lasting Image: The Romans were thugs. Sir Isaac Newton had a larger impact on the scientific world than Einstein. In fact, after centuries of inadequate definition by dozens of mathematicians, Newton mathematically described pi as an afterthought, needing it to prove one of his laws of physics. Think of that - after dozens of brilliant folks labored untold hours, Newton said "Oh, by the way, here's pi". And it sat in his desk for nearly a decade until a colleague convinced him it was worth publishing!
Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris. Nonfiction.
About: a collection of short stories themed around Christmas.
Lasting Image: 1. David working as an elf in Macy's Santaland. A group of severely retarded visitors came one day, and David realized afterward that he could no longer differentiate them from the "normal" visitors.
2. Perhaps the most wickedly funny holiday newsletter I've ever read.
Coming up for air
The project that has been consuming all my resources (mindshare, time, energy, happy disposition, etc) went into production today. Thank bleepin' god that's over with. I hope to have time and energy to catch up on my posts.
Expect a flurry.
Expect a flurry.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Book List
Just for giggles I've decided to keep a list of books I've read. As you'll see, I'm not the world's fastest reader.
2008 (so far)
The Worst Hard Time - the Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan. Nonfiction.
About: people who didn't leave the Dust Bowl.
My thoughts: Wow! Books like this remind me to be grateful for all that I have. The Dust Bowl and Great Depression were events almost unimagineable to us younger generations. Also, an event almost completely human-made. A good read for those who don't have an understanding of man's effect on the environment.
Lasting Image: the "dusters" - incredible black storms caused by high sustained winds and loose topsoil. Sometimes achieved zero visibility. Also caused blindness and "dust pneumonia" - and death
Candy Girl - A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper by Diablo Cody. Nonfiction.
About: an ordinary woman who decides to become a stripper - in Minneapolis!
My thoughts: I first saw this book reviewed in Entertainment Weekly magazine. It got high marks and sounded interesting. But I'd forgotten about it until I learned the author had also penned the screenplay to Juno, so I went back and got it. Diablo Cody is a fantastic, original, and very clever writer. She bares all in the book (and as a stripper). It was fascinating but at the same time, not at all surprising. A fun read. Short book.
Lasting Image: the clientele from her time working in "the box" at Sex World - especially a certain --- Licker, and her first foray into baring all at the Skyway during Amateur night, particularly the use of the word "staunch". Eww.
2007 (in reverse order as far back as I can remember)
A Death in Belmont by Sebastian Junger. Nonfiction.
About: Junger, author of A Perfect Storm, also a Belmont, Massachusetts native, coincidentally was a wee child when one of the contractors who built an addition on his house turned out to the Boston Strangler. Or not.
My thoughts: Junger reviews events surrounding the killings of the Boston Strangler, how the man who confessed to being the Boston Strangler may or may not be accountable for a murder that occurred in his neighborhood. It was a great premise but I found the book disappointing due to the complete lack of resolution. Sometimes you have to accept that you'll just never know.
Lasting Image: Just inside the front cover there is a family photo showing Junger as a child, in his mother's lap, and in the background are the contractors who'd just finished the addition on his parent's house. One of the contractors is the Boston Strangler.
Carnival Undercover by Bret Witter and Lorelei Sharkey. Nonfiction.
About: everything you wanted to know about amusement parks, travelling carnivals, etc.
My thoughts: it's pretty light fare, but hey, who doesn't want to know how to win those big stuffed animals at the State Fair?
Lasting Image: remembering to cut a hole in some plywood so I can practice the softball-in-the-milkcan game.
Thunderstruck by Erik Larsn. Nonfiction.
About: how the murder of a woman and low-speed getaway pushed the fledgling "wireless" radio into public consciousness.
My thoughts: if not for the Titanic, everyone would know this story. It rivals O.J. Simpson's low-speed getaway on that famous Friday night in 1994.
Lasting image: a doctor, who had murdered his pathetic faux-debutaunte wife, escaping across the Atlantic on a luxury liner with his mistress disguised as a young boy, is captured when recognized by a fellow passenger. Because of the new "wireless" radio communication, the ship's captain is aware of the impending capture, which is then leaked to the press, so that the whole world is left waiting for the ship to arrive in North America for the arrest.
Lasting Image: Marconi had no scientific training. He stole the idea, which was only theory at the time, and worked tirelessly using only trial-and-error to build the device. He was also part P.T. Barnum - quite the marketing guru.
2008 (so far)
The Worst Hard Time - the Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan. Nonfiction.
About: people who didn't leave the Dust Bowl.
My thoughts: Wow! Books like this remind me to be grateful for all that I have. The Dust Bowl and Great Depression were events almost unimagineable to us younger generations. Also, an event almost completely human-made. A good read for those who don't have an understanding of man's effect on the environment.
Lasting Image: the "dusters" - incredible black storms caused by high sustained winds and loose topsoil. Sometimes achieved zero visibility. Also caused blindness and "dust pneumonia" - and death
Candy Girl - A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper by Diablo Cody. Nonfiction.
About: an ordinary woman who decides to become a stripper - in Minneapolis!
My thoughts: I first saw this book reviewed in Entertainment Weekly magazine. It got high marks and sounded interesting. But I'd forgotten about it until I learned the author had also penned the screenplay to Juno, so I went back and got it. Diablo Cody is a fantastic, original, and very clever writer. She bares all in the book (and as a stripper). It was fascinating but at the same time, not at all surprising. A fun read. Short book.
Lasting Image: the clientele from her time working in "the box" at Sex World - especially a certain --- Licker, and her first foray into baring all at the Skyway during Amateur night, particularly the use of the word "staunch". Eww.
2007 (in reverse order as far back as I can remember)
A Death in Belmont by Sebastian Junger. Nonfiction.
About: Junger, author of A Perfect Storm, also a Belmont, Massachusetts native, coincidentally was a wee child when one of the contractors who built an addition on his house turned out to the Boston Strangler. Or not.
My thoughts: Junger reviews events surrounding the killings of the Boston Strangler, how the man who confessed to being the Boston Strangler may or may not be accountable for a murder that occurred in his neighborhood. It was a great premise but I found the book disappointing due to the complete lack of resolution. Sometimes you have to accept that you'll just never know.
Lasting Image: Just inside the front cover there is a family photo showing Junger as a child, in his mother's lap, and in the background are the contractors who'd just finished the addition on his parent's house. One of the contractors is the Boston Strangler.
Carnival Undercover by Bret Witter and Lorelei Sharkey. Nonfiction.
About: everything you wanted to know about amusement parks, travelling carnivals, etc.
My thoughts: it's pretty light fare, but hey, who doesn't want to know how to win those big stuffed animals at the State Fair?
Lasting Image: remembering to cut a hole in some plywood so I can practice the softball-in-the-milkcan game.
Thunderstruck by Erik Larsn. Nonfiction.
About: how the murder of a woman and low-speed getaway pushed the fledgling "wireless" radio into public consciousness.
My thoughts: if not for the Titanic, everyone would know this story. It rivals O.J. Simpson's low-speed getaway on that famous Friday night in 1994.
Lasting image: a doctor, who had murdered his pathetic faux-debutaunte wife, escaping across the Atlantic on a luxury liner with his mistress disguised as a young boy, is captured when recognized by a fellow passenger. Because of the new "wireless" radio communication, the ship's captain is aware of the impending capture, which is then leaked to the press, so that the whole world is left waiting for the ship to arrive in North America for the arrest.
Lasting Image: Marconi had no scientific training. He stole the idea, which was only theory at the time, and worked tirelessly using only trial-and-error to build the device. He was also part P.T. Barnum - quite the marketing guru.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Next Phase
Katie and I reached a new phase in our lives Friday night. We probably reached it earlier but we didn't know until Friday night.
I'll set the scene - a darkened movie theater, credits rolling (for Fred Claus, a steaming pile of feces on the holiday movie list). Katie, the kids and I are donning our winter coats to head back out to the van.
Owen says, "What if there was a Santa Claus?"
I looked to Katie, who was deflating like a stuck balloon. No, it was more like her puppy had just been assassinated. She was the embodiment of disappointment.
When he saw his mother's disappointment, Owen tried earnestly to backtrack. But the damage was done. It was too late. We finally had the proof that our children no longer believe in Santa Claus.
We knew Megan no longer believed in Santa. I don't remember the exact age she stopped believing, but it's been a while (she's 14 now).
We also knew Jackson no longer believes. It's been well more than a year for him (he's within weeks of his 11th birthday). We did ask him not to tell Owen, who we thought still believed in Santa. He's 9 and probably should have figured it out long ago.
But in our naive desire to keep our kids young, Katie and I spent the entire season pretending that Owen still believed. We covertly carried "Santa's" gifts to a secret hiding spot after purchase. We spoke in hushed tones about which gifts were Santa's and which would be from us. We threw stern looks toward the older siblings every time they mentioned the myth of Santa.
All for naught.
I personally do not remember ever believing in Santa Claus (thank you very much, 10 older siblings, for ruining that for me!). Katie and her younger brother believed for quite some time - deep into elementary school. And even when they no longer believed, they hid that fact from their mother because, they reasoned, it might reduce their Christmas bounty.
Katie and I spent much of Saturday in a subdued state of mourning. After Santa evaporates, this becomes a pretty cruel world, doesn't it? What's next? I guess we won't be sneaking money into their tooth fairy pillows the nights after teeth fall out.
Ugh. They grow up so fast.
I'll set the scene - a darkened movie theater, credits rolling (for Fred Claus, a steaming pile of feces on the holiday movie list). Katie, the kids and I are donning our winter coats to head back out to the van.
Owen says, "What if there was a Santa Claus?"
I looked to Katie, who was deflating like a stuck balloon. No, it was more like her puppy had just been assassinated. She was the embodiment of disappointment.
When he saw his mother's disappointment, Owen tried earnestly to backtrack. But the damage was done. It was too late. We finally had the proof that our children no longer believe in Santa Claus.
We knew Megan no longer believed in Santa. I don't remember the exact age she stopped believing, but it's been a while (she's 14 now).
We also knew Jackson no longer believes. It's been well more than a year for him (he's within weeks of his 11th birthday). We did ask him not to tell Owen, who we thought still believed in Santa. He's 9 and probably should have figured it out long ago.
But in our naive desire to keep our kids young, Katie and I spent the entire season pretending that Owen still believed. We covertly carried "Santa's" gifts to a secret hiding spot after purchase. We spoke in hushed tones about which gifts were Santa's and which would be from us. We threw stern looks toward the older siblings every time they mentioned the myth of Santa.
All for naught.
I personally do not remember ever believing in Santa Claus (thank you very much, 10 older siblings, for ruining that for me!). Katie and her younger brother believed for quite some time - deep into elementary school. And even when they no longer believed, they hid that fact from their mother because, they reasoned, it might reduce their Christmas bounty.
Katie and I spent much of Saturday in a subdued state of mourning. After Santa evaporates, this becomes a pretty cruel world, doesn't it? What's next? I guess we won't be sneaking money into their tooth fairy pillows the nights after teeth fall out.
Ugh. They grow up so fast.
More Dead
12-29-07 - 1 dead mouse found in basement, head crushed and stuck in Better Mousetrap brand mousetrap. Cause of death: sudden blunt trauma to head.
12-30-07 - 1 dead mouse found in basement, head crushed and stuck in Better Mousetrap brand mousetrap. Cause of death: sudden blunt trauma to head.
12-31-07 - 2 dead mice found in basement, heads crushed and stuck in Better Mousetrap brand mousetrap. Cause of death: sudden blunt trauma to head.
1-2-08 - 1 dead mouse found in basement, head crushed and stuck in Better Mousetrap brand mousetrap. Cause of death: sudden blunt trauma to head.
Death toll for the season: 12
Two items of note: 1) we've gone a few days in a row without a dead mouse; and 2) the squirrels are pulling the baggies of dead mice out of the garbage cans and leaving them in the driveway and yard.
Who knows what surprises are in store when the snow melts?
12-30-07 - 1 dead mouse found in basement, head crushed and stuck in Better Mousetrap brand mousetrap. Cause of death: sudden blunt trauma to head.
12-31-07 - 2 dead mice found in basement, heads crushed and stuck in Better Mousetrap brand mousetrap. Cause of death: sudden blunt trauma to head.
1-2-08 - 1 dead mouse found in basement, head crushed and stuck in Better Mousetrap brand mousetrap. Cause of death: sudden blunt trauma to head.
Death toll for the season: 12
Two items of note: 1) we've gone a few days in a row without a dead mouse; and 2) the squirrels are pulling the baggies of dead mice out of the garbage cans and leaving them in the driveway and yard.
Who knows what surprises are in store when the snow melts?
Friday, December 28, 2007
Infestation
12-24-07 - 1 dead mouse found in basement, head crushed and stuck in Better Mousetrap brand mousetrap. Cause of death: sudden blunt trauma to head.
12-26-07 - 1 dead mouse found in basement, head crushed and stuck in Better Mousetrap brand mousetrap. Cause of death: sudden blunt trauma to head.
12-28-07 - 1 dead mouse found in basement, head crushed and stuck in Better Mousetrap brand mousetrap. Cause of death: sudden blunt trauma to head.
Death toll for the season: 10
Don't know the reason for the sudden string of killings - I guess a family of the little buggers must have moved in.
Unfortunately one of my Better Mousetrap brand mousetraps broke so I can only kill one at a time. Guess I better get to the hardware store.
12-26-07 - 1 dead mouse found in basement, head crushed and stuck in Better Mousetrap brand mousetrap. Cause of death: sudden blunt trauma to head.
12-28-07 - 1 dead mouse found in basement, head crushed and stuck in Better Mousetrap brand mousetrap. Cause of death: sudden blunt trauma to head.
Death toll for the season: 10
Don't know the reason for the sudden string of killings - I guess a family of the little buggers must have moved in.
Unfortunately one of my Better Mousetrap brand mousetraps broke so I can only kill one at a time. Guess I better get to the hardware store.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Giving Blood Part 2 - Natalya Returns
First, read this post from 2006. It describes a less than fulfilling attempted blood donation.
Guess who was there to take my blood today?
After filling out the forms and answering the not-so-discrete questions about my travel and sexual history, a lab-coated Memorial Blood Center technician led me to a table with a left-armed drawing position (I prefer the left arm, thank you very much). The technician manning this and an adjacent, right-arm drawing table, was Natalya - she of the "oops" incident from a year ago.
Yikes! Was I actually going to have to ask for a different phlebology technician? I debated mentally.
"Look," I'd say, "it's nothing professional, but I just can't have you 'oops-ing' me again."
Then I thought - if she was that bad, would she still be working for them? After all, she appeared to have properly handled the woman next to me. No oops-ing today. No blood on the floor and alarmed stares from other blood donors. So far.
Before I really had much more of a chance to think, a different, much more experienced looking phlebologist approached and took care of me.
A one word response to all of this - "Whew!"
All went well, and I'm currently running a pint low. And I'm happy that 3 people will receive parts of my blood and help them (hopefully) return to good health.
Guess who was there to take my blood today?
After filling out the forms and answering the not-so-discrete questions about my travel and sexual history, a lab-coated Memorial Blood Center technician led me to a table with a left-armed drawing position (I prefer the left arm, thank you very much). The technician manning this and an adjacent, right-arm drawing table, was Natalya - she of the "oops" incident from a year ago.
Yikes! Was I actually going to have to ask for a different phlebology technician? I debated mentally.
"Look," I'd say, "it's nothing professional, but I just can't have you 'oops-ing' me again."
Then I thought - if she was that bad, would she still be working for them? After all, she appeared to have properly handled the woman next to me. No oops-ing today. No blood on the floor and alarmed stares from other blood donors. So far.
Before I really had much more of a chance to think, a different, much more experienced looking phlebologist approached and took care of me.
A one word response to all of this - "Whew!"
All went well, and I'm currently running a pint low. And I'm happy that 3 people will receive parts of my blood and help them (hopefully) return to good health.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Death Toll update
12-16-07 - 1 dead squirrel found in bottom of empty garbage can outside garage. No obvious external injuries. Cause of death: suicide.
12-19-07 - 1 dead mouse found in basement, head crushed and stuck in Better Mousetrap brand mousetrap. Cause of death: sudden blunt trauma to head.
Death toll for the season: 7
12-19-07 - 1 dead mouse found in basement, head crushed and stuck in Better Mousetrap brand mousetrap. Cause of death: sudden blunt trauma to head.
Death toll for the season: 7
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
2007 Non-Demominational, Non-Personalized, Holiday-Type Newsletter
Presenting the 2007 Non-denominational, Non-Personalized, Holiday-type Newsletter of the Gonzalez Family
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Friday, December 14, 2007
I Spoke Too Soon
12-13-07 - 1 dead mouse found in basement, head crushed and stuck in Better Mousetrap brand mousetrap. Cause of death: sudden blunt trauma to head.
Death toll for the season: 5
Wouldn't you know that as soon as I said "seems like it's going to be a pretty light year for dead mice" that I get another one.
Death toll for the season: 5
Wouldn't you know that as soon as I said "seems like it's going to be a pretty light year for dead mice" that I get another one.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Christmas Letter Update - I Got Nothin'
Every year I seem to hit this roadblock, but I'm more stuck than I've ever been. I'm gonna go ahead and blame my job. It's 9:53pm and I'm ready to drop. The thing I need most for creativity is extra brain cycles. Spare mindshare. And I don't have any. I leave for work by 7am and arrive home after 6pm. I'm in meetings 7 hours a day, and now I've taken over responsibility for a project because someone else is out on medical leave. I literally eat my lunch in meetings and go to the bathroom walking from one meeting room to another.
So don't be shocked if the Annual Non-Denominational, Holiday-Type Newsletter is a bit late this year.
So don't be shocked if the Annual Non-Denominational, Holiday-Type Newsletter is a bit late this year.
Dead Mouse Update
11-30-07 - 1 dead mouse found in basement under ping pong table. Cause of death: toyed with to death by natural predators.
12-8-07 - 1 dead mouse found in basement, head crushed and stuck in Better Mousetrap brand mousetrap. Cause of death: sudden blunt trauma to head.
Death toll for the season: 4
It's been a light year for rodents and I'm not sure why. Don't really care, either. I'm just happy I haven't had to find one by smell. God, I hate that smell - the smell of rotting rodent. It's indescribable.
12-8-07 - 1 dead mouse found in basement, head crushed and stuck in Better Mousetrap brand mousetrap. Cause of death: sudden blunt trauma to head.
Death toll for the season: 4
It's been a light year for rodents and I'm not sure why. Don't really care, either. I'm just happy I haven't had to find one by smell. God, I hate that smell - the smell of rotting rodent. It's indescribable.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Complete This Sentence
Here's a fun exercise that I'd really like a bunch of my friends/family to try. But first a little background.
I'm reading a book called Happier, which can be found at any book store with a self-help section. In the book there are a series of exercises intended to help you decide for yourself how to be happier. One exercise is to finish a series of sentences, like:
*Things that make me happy are ...
*To bring 5 percent more happiness to my life ...
I think you get the idea.
So, today, for the first day in a year of riding the bus to work, I had to run twice to make it to the bus; once in the morning and once at night. It occurred to me, while making my mild sprint this afternoon, that I believe every time I have to run/jog/increase-my-gait-even-a-smidgen to catch the bus that I lose a little bit of my soul.
You probably think I'm nuts. That's okay, I can live with that. But then I thought - I wonder how others would finish that sentence.
I'm asking that you all please complete the following sentence in the comments:
I lose a little bit of my soul every time ...
I'm reading a book called Happier, which can be found at any book store with a self-help section. In the book there are a series of exercises intended to help you decide for yourself how to be happier. One exercise is to finish a series of sentences, like:
*Things that make me happy are ...
*To bring 5 percent more happiness to my life ...
I think you get the idea.
So, today, for the first day in a year of riding the bus to work, I had to run twice to make it to the bus; once in the morning and once at night. It occurred to me, while making my mild sprint this afternoon, that I believe every time I have to run/jog/increase-my-gait-even-a-smidgen to catch the bus that I lose a little bit of my soul.
You probably think I'm nuts. That's okay, I can live with that. But then I thought - I wonder how others would finish that sentence.
I'm asking that you all please complete the following sentence in the comments:
I lose a little bit of my soul every time ...
Monday, October 08, 2007
One Less Pristine Tooth
A quick note - I had a cavity filled today. I'm not a huge fan of Novocain, that's for sure. I gave blood last Saturday. It took 8 minutes and 5 seconds (they time you now, for some reason). I swear that the Novocain needle was in my gum longer than than the bloodletting needle. [Insert bone rattling shiver here.]
You know what else I hate? My plaque-infested tooth didn't hurt when I woke up this morning. However, now that it contains a white, plastic filling, it's actually kind of sore. Pretty hard to explain to the kids why they should have their cavities filled if it only creates pain for them in a place there wasn't pain before.
You know what else I hate? My plaque-infested tooth didn't hurt when I woke up this morning. However, now that it contains a white, plastic filling, it's actually kind of sore. Pretty hard to explain to the kids why they should have their cavities filled if it only creates pain for them in a place there wasn't pain before.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Notes on a Youth
Here I am - but I don't know the date. It's a school photo, but not from kindergarten, of that I am sure. So it's sometime after that.
I thought it might be fun to make fun of me, as if I was looking at the photo for the first time and I didn't know who it was. Here goes:
"What a cute little girl!"
"Note the narrow shoulders and vastly over-sized head."
"Looks like the nose is already full grown."
"Is that hair or is he wearing a helmet?"
"What pretty brown eyes! What's her name?"
Feel free to chime in.
I thought it might be fun to make fun of me, as if I was looking at the photo for the first time and I didn't know who it was. Here goes:
"What a cute little girl!"
"Note the narrow shoulders and vastly over-sized head."
"Looks like the nose is already full grown."
"Is that hair or is he wearing a helmet?"
"What pretty brown eyes! What's her name?"
Feel free to chime in.
The Killing Season
It's not even cold yet for October and I've killed 2 mice so far this season. I'll keep track on this blog again this year.
Season count:2 - 1 by Better Mousetrap brand mousetrap, 1 by cats.
Season count:2 - 1 by Better Mousetrap brand mousetrap, 1 by cats.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
The Last Whimsy
I am still alive, and working on several new pieces - including stories about public transportation and more tales of interest from CCRB (concentric-circled retail behemoth) like how to write "brand". (Oh. My. God! Our internal communications organization has actually published a memo on the proper way to exhibit CCRB "brand" while writing! Holy F**king S**t! Is this necessary? In this memo I learned, among many golden nuggets of great information, that it is "brand" to end an email with "Thanks!" and not "brand" to end with "Thank you." Like, you know, whatever. We're The Gap, not Brooks Brothers.)
For giggles I re-read several old posts and now am wondering where my whimsy has gone. For example, I went to the dentist Monday morning and learned that I've grown another cavity in one of my pristine teeth (that is, one of the few teeth in my mouth that doesn't already have a filling). In the past I could have written an entire post about the experience - expecting that my terrific storytelling could make something so mundane seem interesting - even funny.
Not anymore. Just a dull trip to the dentist. I need to find my whimsy. Need to do more solitary chores - more biking to work and clearing brush. That's it - my whimsy's out in the back yard.
Help me find my whimsy. Please.
Take care.
For giggles I re-read several old posts and now am wondering where my whimsy has gone. For example, I went to the dentist Monday morning and learned that I've grown another cavity in one of my pristine teeth (that is, one of the few teeth in my mouth that doesn't already have a filling). In the past I could have written an entire post about the experience - expecting that my terrific storytelling could make something so mundane seem interesting - even funny.
Not anymore. Just a dull trip to the dentist. I need to find my whimsy. Need to do more solitary chores - more biking to work and clearing brush. That's it - my whimsy's out in the back yard.
Help me find my whimsy. Please.
Take care.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
The Joy (and Horror) of Randomness
In my estimation, people who listen to music (most everyone) tend to fall into one of two groups:
1. People who like to hear certain songs in a certain order. These people fill their iPods with playlists (they don't buy the Shuffle because it only takes 1 playlist) and seldom, if ever, use the "shuffle songs" function.
2. People who nearly always put their music on shuffle. These people revel in the surprise of their favorite songs mixed together in a different order. "Ooh!" they gasp at the start of each song, "I like this song, and I like it even better after ..."
I tend toward Group 1. The main reason for this is that I listen to fairly wide variety of rock and roll artists. I have a playlist, for example, consisting completely of The Fray and Coldplay because they have a similar sound. I've also found that The Beatles don't mix well with any other groups. Neither do They Might Be Giants. So it would be discombobulating to me if When I'm 64 by The Beatles was followed by Rock You Like a Hurricane by The Scorpions, which was then followed by Don't Panic by Coldplay. That's just an odd mix. Discombobulating.
That said, I go through phases where I tire of all my playlists and use the shuffle function just for giggles. For a few days I revel in the joy (or disappointment) of the randomness of the order of the songs. I do occasionally stumble across artist/song mixes that, had I not heard them randomly assembled, I would never have put together myself. Then I put a few new playlists together and move back to Group 1.
I began enjoying the randomness on Monday, July 30th. It was refreshing, revitalizing music that had become stale to me. I had extra bounce in my step as I strode down Nicollet Mall heading to work that Monday. I don't remember hitting skip (a practice I use to move on to the next song when the randomness gods don't offer me a nicely flowing music mix) for all of Monday, nor even Tuesday or Wednesday.
Wednesday, of course, is the day the randomness gods played with our great city, dropping a random collection of vehicles, commuters, construction workers, et al, 64 feet into the Mississippi River during the busiest moment of the day.
Just think of the crazy randomness of it all. The driver of the UPS truck, interviewed in his hospital bed, described honking at a school bus full of kids, waving, then looking over to his left and seeing a Tastee truck, and having been a former Tastee employee, actually recognizing the Tastee truck driver. "Hey, I know that guy," he said to himself.
Then the bridge collapsed. The UPS driver lived - obviously. As of this writing the bus driver remains in serious condition. That all the kids made it out of the school bus essentially unhurt is, well (I'm tearing up), proof that even the randomness gods follow Alfred Hitchcock's first rule of moviemaking: never kill the kid. The Tastee driver did not make it, his truck one of the vehicles engulfed in flame immediately after the collapse.
All that in about 2 seconds.
I've already heard stories from people who took a different route home that night - thus avoiding calamity. I don't know if we'll ever hear the stories of the ones who took the different route that night and didn't make it home.
But what to make of it all? God's will? Karma?
Life happens. Death happens. It's better to be lucky than good. There are many things in life over which we have no control. For these things we accept the results of our natural lottery ticket and help those who scored a worse fate than us. No regrets. No gloating. We just shake our collective heads, clean up, rebuild, and move on.
By the way, I'm still shuffling my songs and kind of digging it. Good and bad.
1. People who like to hear certain songs in a certain order. These people fill their iPods with playlists (they don't buy the Shuffle because it only takes 1 playlist) and seldom, if ever, use the "shuffle songs" function.
2. People who nearly always put their music on shuffle. These people revel in the surprise of their favorite songs mixed together in a different order. "Ooh!" they gasp at the start of each song, "I like this song, and I like it even better after ..."
I tend toward Group 1. The main reason for this is that I listen to fairly wide variety of rock and roll artists. I have a playlist, for example, consisting completely of The Fray and Coldplay because they have a similar sound. I've also found that The Beatles don't mix well with any other groups. Neither do They Might Be Giants. So it would be discombobulating to me if When I'm 64 by The Beatles was followed by Rock You Like a Hurricane by The Scorpions, which was then followed by Don't Panic by Coldplay. That's just an odd mix. Discombobulating.
That said, I go through phases where I tire of all my playlists and use the shuffle function just for giggles. For a few days I revel in the joy (or disappointment) of the randomness of the order of the songs. I do occasionally stumble across artist/song mixes that, had I not heard them randomly assembled, I would never have put together myself. Then I put a few new playlists together and move back to Group 1.
I began enjoying the randomness on Monday, July 30th. It was refreshing, revitalizing music that had become stale to me. I had extra bounce in my step as I strode down Nicollet Mall heading to work that Monday. I don't remember hitting skip (a practice I use to move on to the next song when the randomness gods don't offer me a nicely flowing music mix) for all of Monday, nor even Tuesday or Wednesday.
Wednesday, of course, is the day the randomness gods played with our great city, dropping a random collection of vehicles, commuters, construction workers, et al, 64 feet into the Mississippi River during the busiest moment of the day.
Just think of the crazy randomness of it all. The driver of the UPS truck, interviewed in his hospital bed, described honking at a school bus full of kids, waving, then looking over to his left and seeing a Tastee truck, and having been a former Tastee employee, actually recognizing the Tastee truck driver. "Hey, I know that guy," he said to himself.
Then the bridge collapsed. The UPS driver lived - obviously. As of this writing the bus driver remains in serious condition. That all the kids made it out of the school bus essentially unhurt is, well (I'm tearing up), proof that even the randomness gods follow Alfred Hitchcock's first rule of moviemaking: never kill the kid. The Tastee driver did not make it, his truck one of the vehicles engulfed in flame immediately after the collapse.
All that in about 2 seconds.
I've already heard stories from people who took a different route home that night - thus avoiding calamity. I don't know if we'll ever hear the stories of the ones who took the different route that night and didn't make it home.
But what to make of it all? God's will? Karma?
Life happens. Death happens. It's better to be lucky than good. There are many things in life over which we have no control. For these things we accept the results of our natural lottery ticket and help those who scored a worse fate than us. No regrets. No gloating. We just shake our collective heads, clean up, rebuild, and move on.
By the way, I'm still shuffling my songs and kind of digging it. Good and bad.
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