Yeah For Me!

What A Way To Go

I am saddened to report that Evel Knievel died today at the age of 69. He died in bed of two chronic illnesses - diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis. Who would have guessed? Evel Knievel was a famous daredevil in the 1970's. He attempted many crazy and dangerous stunts. The common sense gene had to be missing in this guy. Why would anyone with common sense try to jump the Grand Canyon on a motorcycle? Why try and jump 14 Greyhound buses on a motorcycle? Or how about that pool of sharks? He broke bones. He broke his head. Once he was in a coma for a month. Still he kept on daring the devil. It's like he was a boy with a big stick poking a hornet nest. The hornets would come out and sting the crap out of him but he kept coming back to poke that hornet nest again. In his red, white and blue jumpsuit he would play tag with the Grim Reaper. He danced at the very edge of death time and time again. And he lived, until now.

Minnesota River

Lately, because of my travels through the Minnesota River Valley on I35, I have been admiring the Minnesota River Valley. The Minnesota River headwaters are at Big Stone Lake near Ortonville - on the border of South Dakota. The river flows south east until the town of Mankato when it hooks a left and flows north east into Minneapolis. The Minnesota river joins the Mississippi river near Fort Snelling. I have had a few experiences with the Minnesota River. I have camped several times at Big Stone Lake. I have fished and swam in Big Stone. Once we camped near New Ulm at Flandreau State Park. We spent a lovely afternoon wading through the Minnesota River, picking up rocks and cooling off. Offspring #1 was still in diapers at the time. I remember because he made the biggest mess in a German restaurant booster seat that I have ever seen in my life. The menu was in German. We toured a brewery with lovely gardens and peacocks strolling around the grounds showing off their tail feathers and making human like cries. I think it would be fun to spend some time next summer really exploring the Minnesota River. Here is a link that offers some possible itinerarys, tips, history, and wildlife information.

http://www.mnrivervalley.com/index.php

A Trip To A Travel Clinic

Today I went to a travel clinic for the first time. I never knew these things existed until I wanted to get a vaccination for yellow fever. My clinic doesn't offer this vaccine so I was sent to a travel clinic. I tried to make an appointment to get only the shot but was told I must visit with the travel doctor. So I did. Turns out the travel doctor knows my cousin Larry who lives in Ely. I got more than I bargained for and I am glad I saw a doctor. I got vaccinations for yellow fever, typhoid, and polio. Yellow fever is mostly a political vaccination. Some countries won't let you in without proof of yellow fever vaccination. I was given an official looking yellow document detailing my yellow fever vaccination. I have to take it with me. He looked up the prevalence of polio on the Center for Disease Control website and suggested I get a vaccination. There isn't much danger in taking the vaccination and it's better than getting polio. I got a prescription for malaria prevention. I got two antibiotic prescriptions in case I get an infection or Traveler's Diarrhea. He offered me something for jet lag - ambien. Yeah, no, I don't feel comfortable taking a mind altering drug when out of the country. I believe ambien is the sleeping pill that people take who then go out driving or start eating in the kitchen unaware of what they are doing. I am prone to sleep walking without ambien so I turned him down. A couple benadryl is all I need to knock myself out. He gave me 4 pages of travel tips such as don't buy food from street vendors, drink only pasteurized milk, don't use the faucet to brush your teeth-use bottled water instead, and check your mosquito net for holes before going to sleep. He told me to buy a LED headlamp and keep it beside the bed at night. He said I could get it for $20 at REI in Roseville or Maple Grove. I'm always amazed when doctors suggest what I should buy and where to get it. My regular doctor gave me a sheet with a recumbent bicycle brand name and two bicycle stores where it is available. All in all, it was a good visit to the travel clinic. I will definitely think about going again if ever I travel overseas.

Free Rice

For a way to combine education and good will, go to www.freerice.com

Mind the Gap

I read in the newspaper today that the woman who provides the voice for the London tube/underground/subway system was fired for telling the news media that she avoids using the tube because the service is so poor. When we were in London, we heard her voice. I thought it was ever so quaint and totally British to say, "Mind the gap." Here, in plain old USA, we would probably say, "Don't fall in the hole!" "Mind the gap" sounded so refined to me. And now her voice will be replaced by another. Well, what she did would be similiar to Mr. Whipple saying, "Squeeze the Charmin if you want, I prefer Soft N Gentle." Or what if Marge said, "Soak your hands in Palmolive but if you want clean dishes, use Dawn." What if the Michelin Man was seen driving on Goodyear tires? The Marlboro man smoking a Camel cigarette? The Pillsbury Dough Boy eating a Krispy Kreme? Wrong, all wrong.

Monday Monday

After having 6 days off work, it sure was hard to get up this morning.

Bar Soaps

The other day I put out a bar of Irish Spring bar soap. Yeah, I don't like that soap. I only bought it for it's rabbit repelling properties which turned out to be not so great either. I sliced up slivers of Irish Spring around my garden. The rabbits walked right across it with their little soapy paws. I used to be a big fan of Dial soap in my 20's and 30's. I think I liked the deoderant properties of Dial. But that soap is too drying for my aging skin. Ivory soap is for babies. I think it's creepy the way it floats in the water. I don't feel clean using Ivory. When I was a teenager I had to use Brut soap on a rope. I think I was in the majority of teenage girls - we don't like to smell like Brut. And Safeguard soap - oh, that it the worst! The smell of Safeguard soap triggers a memory in me that puts me right back into Dr. Raykowski's "I don't believe in novacaine" dentist's chair. That guy had huge sausage like fingers that reeked of Safeguard soap. I hate that stuff. Bar soaps are becoming a thing of the past now. Liquid soaps are more popular.

Nemesia

Here is a photo of a plant I put in my pots on the wall last may. They were blooming when I planted them. They flourished all summer - blooming and adding branches and hanging down the sides of the pots. Last week (mid November) I pulled them out to put in some winter greens and red twigged dogwood and THEY WERE STILL BLOOMING! They are called nemesia. Mine were named "Opal Innocense Nemesia." I am definitely buying these plants again next year.

How Many Points on a Buck?

This morning I was relaxing on my chaise lounge, reading the paper, serving as a bed for the dog, and recharging myself. By recharging myself I mean I was enjoying a day off work and literally recharging myself via this large metal plate I strap over my lower back to recharge my Medtronic spinal stimulator. I glanced out the window to see a deer eating apples for a mid morning snack. This deer was different. He had antlers. This is the first deer I've noticed at the tree with antlers. The others have been antlerless. The antlers had 3 points on each side. Does that make it a 3 point buck or a 6 point buck?

Satisfaction

Today was a very satisfying holiday. For me satisfaction comes in the little things. A sloppy wet kiss from a 4 year old. The sound of 25 people talking at the same time. An early morning phone call from a best friend. A holiday email from a college roommate. The smell of turkey wafting up to my nose. The sight of delectable pastries. The feeling of being included-belonging to a group. The smell of woodsmoke in the air. Lumpy mashed potatoes. A little dog sitting on my lap. The competitiveness of game players. Good natured teasing. The sight of dark red cranberry sauce. Massive quantities of food ingested. It's all good.

That Shy Bird I was Looking For?

I finally found that strange bird I was looking for - the bird that makes 10 clacks and then a screeching noise?http://orange-sue.blogspot.com/2007/10/shy-bird.html

Yeah, this is what the shy bird looks like. It's not a bird at all - it's a stuttering talkative squirrel. I am very disappointed. I was sure it was a bird. My hopes of finding some new species of bird are dashed.

Intercourse

Yeah, I said intercourse. It's one of my favorite words. Besides the obvious, intercourse is one of my favorite words because of the way how I learned what it meant. A book I am reading sparked this memory in me today. Picture me, an innocent 4th grader, sitting on the floor of the living room under lamp light, reading the St. Paul Daily Pioneer Press. My legs are crossed on the braided oval rug. The hour is late, bedtime is coming soon, it's a school night. Grandma is babysitting. She is reading the newspaper in the chair beside me. I scanned a headline that read "Insert business name here" Begins Intercourse With "Insert another business name here." So naturally I asked, "Grandma, what does intercourse mean?" I remember her talking but she didn't really answer the question. I forgot all about intercourse until the next day when Mom said, "Why did you ask Grandma what intercourse means?" I said, "Huh?" Mom said, "Don't ever do that again!" OOOkaaay. Neither one of them told me what it meant. I knew better than to ask Mom what it meant now. I knew they were upset. Grandma was upset enough to tell Mom what I asked and she never did that before. And Mom yelled at me for asking the meaning. This must be a very powerful word. This must be the most powerful word in the universe. And to think they printed it in the newspaper with all the rest of the regular words! I think they should really add a warning label if they're going to print such powerful words in the newspaper with the regular words. It didn't sound like a swear word - it sounded like a boring, ordinary compound word. I had to know what intercourse meant now. I couldn't wait to get to the classroom the next day. We had 30 red hard cover dictionaries on the shelf. I grabbed the nearest one and looked up intercourse. The dictionary told me intercourse was a connection or dealing between persons or groups. That didn't sound very powerful. Or intercourse was physical contact between two individuals. I figured it was the second definition that was the key to the powerful reaction I got. Physical contact - that didn't sound so powerful. I didn't really understand why I shouldn't have asked what intercourse meant. Not understanding made me a little nervous. Were there other powerful words like this I should know about? Maybe this is why I have always been fascinated by words. I have Merriam Webster bookmarked on my work and home computer. I use the site at least daily. Anyway, that is why intercourse is one of my favorite words.

Flu Shot Anyone?

Today I got a flu shot in the left arm. Ouch, that hurt a little bit. I suspect getting the flu shot today might be a sign of old age. I used to be young and daring and that has changed. I stand in line like a cow waiting to be branded to get my injection of dead virus. I remember my last flu shot. The year was 1976. The president was Gerald Ford. A Swine Flu Epidemic was forcast. The president was on television urging all of us to be vaccinated against the deadly swine flu. I stood in line at an elementary school in St. Cloud to get my flu shot. The line wound through the school hallway and out into the parking lot. I stood in that line for hours listening to everyone debate the merits of getting the shot. Swine flu vaccinations were the talk of the town. Everyone was getting innoculated. The swine flu vaccination goes down in history as the greatest public health endeavor ever and the worst government propaganda ever depending on who is writing the history. Some people say it made them sick. Others said the swine flu vaccination was deadly to some. Gerald Ford didn't get a lot of respect as a president. He is viewed more favorably now. People didn't like the fact that he pardoned Nixon. I didn't like the fact that he pardoned Nixon then. I understand why he did that now. So maybe my feelings for Gerald Ford contribute to why it has taken me 31 years to get another flu shot.

South Of the Border, East of the Border

Yesterday was a multicultural day for me. It began at my community education class where I learned how to make a Kissing Ball. A kissing ball is a round piece of florist foam hung on a ribbon into which I inserted many pieces of Douglas fir to make a roundish shape. I added some pine cones, some Christmas balls, and a festive ribbon in top. Voila - a kissing ball that hangs outside and should stay green until spring. At the nursery where I took this class is a wreath making factory. There were about 25 Hispanic people making wreaths and door ornaments. At the other end of the nursery were a group of Asian people making holiday garland. This was fascinating because it looked at first like these women were spinning wool. They sat in front of large spinning wheels. I saw 5 spinning wheel stations. Twine was fed into the back of the wheel and the women fed branches of evergreens into the hole in the wheel, pushed it forward and then pulled it back. They could make a 25 length of garland in about 5 minutes. In the evening I went to a award banquet for Offspring #2 at the First Christian Church in Minneapolis. She got an award for her community service. There we were entertained by youth ethnic dancers. First were the Mexican dancers. Three 5 year olds danced together. Two girls and a boy in full costume danced round and round. Four teenagers followed them and the dancing was marvelous. The dresses swayed back and forth and the boys looked so handsome. At one point the boys were dancing with 20 inch machetes - clicking the blades together in front of them, behind them, under the legs, etc. A guy has to be careful dancing with those. Then a group named Chatterbox danced. These were Hmong youth doing breakdancing. I saw amazing feats of calestenics and gravity defying upsidedownedness. There was a group of 10 or so people dancing but they took turns and danced singularly or in pairs. I enjoyed watching their faces as they watched their buddies dance. I could tell when a difficult move was made by the appreciation shown on their faces. We were served a wonderful dinner. I had vegetarian fried rice, a vegetarian egg roll, a vegetarian hot tamale, fruit and a fortune cookie. The food was delicious. I have never had a tamale like this before. It was wrapped in what looked like corn husks. I wasn't sure if we were supposed to eat the husk or unroll it. I watched other people unroll it. I took my plastic knife and tried to cut the tamale but I couldn't so I decided to unroll mine too. Inside was a mashed potato packet. It was tasty and warm but the futher I ate, the hotter it got. Inside the center was a jalapeno. Wowee, Momma, that was good. My eyes were watering, my mouth was burning and my nose was running. Any good meal involves a little pain.

That Time of Year Again

Now begins that time of the year when I put my headlights on when I go to work in the morning and put them on again when I leave work at the end of the day. Since my office has no outside windows, I don't see the sun at all unless I go out to lunch or on weekends or I have a meeting in a room with a window. By Valentine's Day, the sun will have come back around and I will have daylight in my life again. I don't mind as much this year. In January, I will be on my trip to Africa. On one of the days I will have the fabulous opportunity to walk back and forth across the equator.

A Staredown

The other day I took my poor sick dog out to the side of the house in the afternoon to do her business. As we rounded the corner, two deer looked up from eating apples under the apple tree. One deer went back to eating but the other deer stared at me and turned her body to face me (I think it was a doe but I'm not sure). She stamped her foot and stuck out her neck at me. She seemed a little aggressive. What the heck? Those were MY apples she was eating and this was MY back yard. So I stared back and stamped my foot. Cripes that hurt like the dickens. With this sciatica I got to remember to stamp my left foot, not the right. She stamped back at me! I stamped back at her. We stared and stamped at each other 15 times. She never took her eyes off mine. The other deer would look up at us once in a while but was merrily chomping away. I was getting tired of this game with this deer who appeared to be as stubborn as I am. So I stomped twice with the left foot. She stomped twice with her hoof. FGS! I got more important things to do with my time than play games with stubborn apple eating deer. There was some serious cleaning up to do after Blunder. If Blunder wasn't so sick I would have stomped over to the deer and scared her off. She acts like she owns the place. If I think about it, maybe she does own the place. She is here more than I am. She stays out of sight only to come out when the apples are ripe. Blunder notices deer and she watches them but she doesn't pull at the leash or bark at them. I think she would approach them to play if she weren't on the leash. If Ruby was here, she would go ballistic. She would bark her head off and strain at the leash. I would have to brace my feet on the ground to prevent being dragged behind her. Ruby would have chased that deer until they were out of sight. I miss Ruby. There are things about her that I don't miss and that is why I didn't get a hunting dog this time but I miss her personality. She thought she owned the world. She thought she was the boss of the universe. She never apologized or said she was sorry. Ruby was one of a kind.

Have you ever had someone complain about a meal but eat every bite? They say the soup was cold and the potatoes were tasteless but every last morsel was gone. Makes you wonder about their credibility, doesn't it? If the meal was as bad as they say, why did they eat it all?

That is how I felt after book club on Tuesday. I had been looking forward to the discussion of Sue Monk Kidd's "Mermaid Chair" all month because it is in my top ten list of books. I loved this book. I liked "Secret Life of Bees" too. I think Sue Monk Kidd is a terrific writer. Her analogies are truly poetic. Her descriptions of the animal and plant life on Egret Island are amazing. When she describes her husband's annoying habits of puffing air out of his lips and tapping his razor on the bathroom sink three times, it's like you are really there. She writes about the charming friendship her mother has with her two best friends. The main character, Jesse, is selfish and immature but likeable. Her love interest, Whit, pretty much has his head up his butt. Her description of the mermaid chair is spot on.

But many people in the book club did not like this book. They said critical things such as, "She must have read "Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood" recently," and "These discussion questions at th end off teh book are an attempt by Penguin Books to make the book seem intelluctual - it's just not that deep." and "The author couldn't put her finger on the main plot." Fingers were a very important part of the book so that one really hurt because it was funny. They didn't like Jesse. They didn't like Whit. They thought Jesse's husband, Hugh, the puffer and razor tapper was a saint. They all agree she is a good writer. They suggested the book could be made into three books - one about Jesse and Hugh's relationship, one about Jesse's childhood, and another about the relationship between Jesse and Whit. The thing is, as much as most people in the book club complained, every last one of them read the entire book all the way to the end. And the book sparked a lively discussion.

Tummy Ache

Blunder had to visit Gordon at the Rum River Vet today. Diagnosis: acute gastritis. Gordon thinks the change from Iams mini chunks to Iams for toy dogs about a week ago upset her tummy. She's lost a pound. She was 9 pounds and now she is 8 pounds. Percentage wise, that is a lot - 11%. So she gets antibiotics wrapped in peanut butter twice a day, homemade rice/hamburger dog food for 3 days, and 3 meals a day instead of 2. During this exam, she had her anal glands expressed. Wow, I don't think that pink and blue flowered wallpaper will ever be the same. Gordon wiped it up though. The anal glands weren't the problem. Sensitive stomach is all. While waiting, I studied the bulletin board in the exam room with dog pictures with names. I saw lots of human names - Sophie, Addy, Maxwell, Roscoe, Timmy, Ashley, Chloe, Sam, and Tiffany. Some dogs have doggie type names - Bowser or King or Princess or Scout. Two dogs really looked like their names - Roscoe (a boxer) and Boris (French bull dog). A dog in the lobby had an accident. The receptionist told me while she was working on Monday a woman came in with this 8 year old fat beagle, said she would be right back with her purse, and never came back. This beagle was abandoned. It's been living at the vets since Monday. And, ever since it's been there, this beagle is brought outside many times a day where it does nothing and then comes in and does it's business in the office, stinking up the entire waiting room. The smell hit my nose like a slap in the face. Phew! Blunder hasn't been smelling too good lately but she's not nearly as nasty smelling as this abandoned beagle. I feel bad for the abandoned beagle. The Vets don't want to bring it to the Humane Society because they know it will be euthanized. I think the owner was cowardly to drop it off at the vetinary office. Yet, better there than at the side of the road.

Gnarly

Gnarly is another one of my favorite words. I first heard it in high school - about the same time I heard the word hassle. Gnarly means extreme. Gnarly can be extremely good, extremely dangerous, extremely crazy, extremely nasty, extremely difficult, or extremely anything. Gnarly can mean the same as awesome, tubular, radical, wicked, tight, amazing, groovy or righteous. Gnarly also bring to my mind mature oak trees (one of my favorite trees) or arthritic knuckles. Gnarly is gnarly, dude!

Chick'n Broccoli Fettucine

Ingredients

1 package (1 lb) whole grain fettuccine

2 TB olive oil

2 cloves chopped garlic

1 package Morningstar Farms Chick'n Strips, cut into 1 inch strips

2 cups broccoli, chopped and blanched

3 cans (14 1/2 oz) chopped tomatoes with garlic, basil and oregano

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded

Preparation Time: 10 min

Total time: 20 min

Servings: 8

Directions

1. Prepare fettuccine according to package directions.

2. While fettuccine cooks, heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic and saute' 1 minute. Add Morningstar Farms Chick'n Strips and heat through. Add broccoli, tomatoes and pepper. Allow to simmer 2-3 minutes.

3. When fettuccine is finished, drain and stir in broccoli and Chick'n mixture.

4. Garnish with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.

Is It Hard To Say No To Others?

Do you ever find it difficult to say "no" to others? When people ask you for a favor do you ever regret saying "yes?" Do common manipulation tactics work on you? Can you recognize manipulation before you give your answer? Have you ever given people the answer they wanted to hear just because they made it clear what answer they wanted? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then join the club which has included many people including this handsome young man:

This is Tchaikovsky. Peter Tchaikovsky had a hard time saying no. A college girl wanted to visit him. He said no. (He starts out good here by saying no but later flounders). She said she needed to visit him. He said no. She said she would kill herself if he didn't agree to visit her. He said yes. Two days later he was married to her. One day later he regretted that. After several weeks he tried to kill himself because she drove him crazy.

I had the pleasure of listening to the Northern Symphony Orchestra perform Tchaikovsky's 4th symphony which he composed during this turbulent time. Each section of the movement lays out his emotions. Tchaikovsky starts out with despondency and sadness and melancholy. The piece ends with incredible power and anger. The cymbals are clashing over and over, the violins and violas and cellos are all sawed across at a fantastic speed - so fast the faces of the musicians are turning red from the effort. The horns are blowing and the drums are pounding. This is the most pissed off piece of music I have ever heard. I kinda wanted a cigarette after it was over but settled for a peanutbutter cookie instead. I like angry music. A certain handsome young cellist was making eyes at my companion before the show-how cute.

Thank You For Your Service

Thanks to all the veterans for your service and your sacrifice to our country.
Speaking of country, if you want to know which candidate matches your issues, try this link. I was surprised that no matter how I weighted each issue, the same three candidates kept coming up: Mike Gavel, Chris Dodd and Dennis Kucinich.
(The page takes a while to load-I have dial up)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/candidate-match-game.htm

Billy Elliot

Two Thumbs up for the movie Billy Elliott. This is a story about a young teen who releases his feelings through dance. He lives with his widowed father, brother, and grandmother in a coal mining town in England. The miners, including his father and brother, are on strike and times are hard. He is taking boxing lessons but becomes intrigued with a ballet class. His father is against him dancing - thinking only "puffers" dance.

Through practice and effort and sheer determination, Billy convinces his father that dancing is his life. Beside father/son relationships and dance, the movie is also about acceptance. It made me cry and laugh. I recommend you watch it.

First Snowfall of the Season

Yeah! I didn't have to work today. Otherwise I would have missed my first snowfall of the season. My office at work is inside the building. I can go nearly the entire day without seeing outside. Sometimes I will leave work all bundled up and it's hot outside or leave without a coat and be surprised by how frigid it is. Today I saw little square ice balls falling on the deck. By the time I got my coat on and the dog on the leash, it was full out snowing when I walked to the mailbox to get the newspaper. The snow covered the driveway completely and accentuated the gopher holes in the yard. Such a lovely snow. I love the way everything gets very quiet outside when the snow falls.

Dwangela

I know it is silly but I am looking forward to my favorite sitcom tonight, The Office. I was drawn from the beginning by a fascinating character named Dwight. At first I was struck by his uncanny resemblance to a certain sibling's ex. It's Ok that I say that because I already told him that he reminded me of Dwight. Dwight is an amazing man. On the surface, if you didn't know him well, you would probably cross to stay on the other side of the street from him. He seems like a stalker. But he is an amazing salesperson, a most loyal friend, and a kind and considerate man. He is in love with Angela. His heart is broken lately because Angela broke it off with him after he put her poor sick cat in the freezer - a mercy killing in his eyes. But she saw the claw marks on her bags of french fries and so far she cannot forgive him. Angela comes off as cold and judgemental and extremely rigid. For instance, when asking a coworker about a relationship problem, she says, "Pam, I am having a relationship problem. And I thought that since you are always having relationship problems, you could help me out." I have an inkling there is hope for Dwight and his love yet. We will find out tonight.

Where Were You in 1977?

In 1977 I lived in St. Cloud, MN on Fifth Avenue, near campus. We were only two doors away from Coborns Grocery Store. I shared an apartment with two women who are still my friends. One of us was neat and the other two were messy. I was one of the messy ones. But we were good friends. Our one bedroom apartment had 3 beds in the bedroom (lower bunk for me), 3 towel racks in the bathroom,and 3 shelves in the refrigerator. I remember one date where we saw Saturday Night Fever at a movie theater on Division Street. I later heard that guy ended up in a California prison. For another date (a guy from Iowa) I bought a new outfit - high waisted bell bottom jeans, a yellow ribbed turtleneck and a blue and yellow plaid flannel shirt. I thought I looked so cool. I graduated from SCSU in 1977. by the end of the year I moved out of St. Cloud and back to St. Paul. Click on the link above to read a hilarious blog about the JC Penney catalog of 1977.

I am Pumped!!!!!

I am pumped. I found out tonight that my trip to Africa is actually on. I was worried it would be cancelled because my last trip was cancelled. I originally planned to go in September. In the long run, it is good that the first one was cancelled because I was still under medical restrictions and should not have gone then anyway. But I'm leaving Jan. 6 - two months from tonight for beautiful downtown Nairobi. I'll be on a 10 day Kenyan safari adventure through Wilderness Inquiry - an outfit that caters to people with disabilities. Here is the link in case you are interested in learning more about my trip: http://www.wildernessinquiry.com/destinations/index.php?dest=kenyasafari

The purpose of this trip is to celebrate Offspring #2's graduation from high school. Oh, I can't wait.
I should learn some Swahili. I work with a very nice man who taught English in Africa. Maybe he'll teach me Swahili in Minnesota.

Younger and Stronger

Tonight I went swimming at the Roosevelt Middle School for the second time since my surgery. Oh, man, it feels great. I feel so good when I am done. My back is more flexible and my muscles are stronger and I can breathe more deeply into my lungs. I am still old, arthritic, and decrepit but I am less old, less arthritic and less decrepit than before. I find this to be much cheaper than joining a health club. I pay $3 to use the pool for 50 minutes. In the water I can swim, run, jog, leap and skip with, well, I won't say no pain but with less pain. I feel great.

Captain James T. Kirk is Hot

Yesterday, while stalling to delay the dreaded task of changing the sheets on the bed, I caught a few minutes of Star Trek. The original Star Trek was the best of the series. In the episode I saw on Saturday, an alien life form takes the shape of a huge bell shaped blob of yellow jello with particles in it that reminded me of pimento loaf. When the alien life force communicated with a person, it would cover them with itself but you could still see the person through the jello. If it got angry, it would send electric volts that caused the person to roll and writhe on the ground. William Shatner was always very good at writhing in pain and rolling on the ground. The more I see of these old Star Trek shows the more I realize, Captain James T. Kirk was hot. He was marvelous! He was one sexy guy.

Which is why I enjoy seeing William Shatner on Boston Legal-just to compare him to Captain James T. Kirk. If you haven't watched Boston Legal, William Shaner plays this incredibly randy old lawyer who makes a pass at any female with a pulse. The ironic difference between these two roles slays me.