End of Season

We're wrapping up Henry's first short-course swim season. He didn't qualify for state, so he has limited practices this week and next, then a few weeks off before long-course begins. He had a terrific season. He grew as a swimmer, and his very last meet -- he came in 6th place in the 100 free! He even won his heat!

I think we're all tired of the constant demands of swimming -- practice, meets, volunteering, special events, and so on.

Tonight, it's taking every ounce of responsible Mom in me to get him there. I'd rather curl up on the couch. He'd rather watch tv or play computer or do just about anything but swim.

However, the guilt's got me. So we're on our way to Mercer Aquatic Center. He'll swim laps. I'll run the treadmill. And we'll stop for dinnertime treats on our way home.

My sore throat says "soup." Henry yelled, "Chocolate!"

He's in luck though. Girl Scout Cookies just came in.

So there's always the bad with the good.

Afternoon Playlist

What I Am -- Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians
Closer to Fine -- Indigo Girls
Nightswimming -- R.E.M.
If No One Ever Marries Me -- Natalie Merchant
Don't Talk -- 10k Maniacs
The Story -- Brandi Carlile
The Lucky One -- Alison Krauss & Union Station
Turning Tables -- Adele
One of Those Days -- Joshua Radin
The Frug -- Rilo Kiley
Back 2 Good -- Matchbox 20
Because of You -- Kelly Clarkson

Quote for the day

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'" -- C.S. Lewis

For all of you who hate this day...

As I was driving to work this morning, I grabbed the first CD on the top of the stack, stuck it in, and got a good chuckle. I had opted for a CD instead of the radio, which was filled with sappy love songs and lame DJs doing their "what's the worst Valentine's Day gift you ever got" schtick.

This was the song that blared from my stereo. I thought it was sort of perfect for the wrong-side-of-the-bed mood I woke up in.

I apologize in advance for the naughty words and the irreverent take on the day. It's just one of those days...

"Break Stuff"
by Limp Biskit

It's just one of those days
When you don't wanna wake up
Everything is f***ed
Everybody sux
You don't really know why
But you want to justify
Rippin' someone's head off
No human contact
And if you interact
Your life is on contract
Your best bet is to stay away motherf***er
It's just one of those days!!

It's all about the he says she says bullsh**
I think you better quit
Lettin' sh** slip
Or you'll be leavin with a fat lip
Its all about the he says she says bullsh**
I think you better quit talkin that sh**
(Punk, so come and get it)

It's just one of those days
Feelin' like a freight train
First one to complain
Leaves with a blood stain
Damn right I'm a maniac
You better watch your back
Cuz I'm f***in' up your program
And if you're stuck up
You just lucked up
Next in line to get f***ed up
Your best bet is to stay away motherf***er
It's just one of those days!!

I feel like sh**
My suggestion is to keep your distance cuz right now I'm dangerous
We've all felt like sh**
And been treated like sh**
All those motherf***ers that want to step up
I hope you know I pack a chain saw
I'll skin your a** raw
And if my day keeps goin' this way I just might break somethin' tonight...
I hope you know I pack a chain saw
I'll skin your a** raw
And if my day keeps goin' this way I just might break your f***in' face tonight!!
Give me somethin' to break
Give me somethin' to break
So come and get it

Gifts that make you go hmmm

Listening to bad morning-drive radio this morning, I caught a bit of a story about "What was the worst Valentine's Day gift you ever received?" Completely contrived and extremely overdone, every year, since, oh, the beginning of time. But a couple of the callers made me chuckle. Such as:

-- The woman whose boyfried gave her an electric toothbrush. It was a really expensive toothbrush, the man exclaimed. It was a toothbrush, the woman reiterated. Either you think I have bad breath or oral hygiene habits. Or you're just romantically clueless. And imagine how many beautiful roses (or lilies or orchids) that money would have bought...

-- Actually, there were many "My boyfriend got me a _____________" ... fill in the blank with the name of an appliance. Toaster. Treadmill. Bathroom scale. Can opener.

-- The woman whose boyfriend gave her an Alice Walker book. She loved Alice Walker. Favorite author. But the book was about...female genital mutilation.

-- Groceries. (And then he expected me to cook him dinner, she added.)

So what do you want for Valentine's Day?

Insomnia

Green glow in blackness
10:30
Eyes shut tight become a canvas for conversation,
repeated
rearranged
reinvented
11:45
Images of next day, next week, next month
Flutter like flip-book pages.
End.
Begin again.
12:18
Toss. Turn. Fists grip tangled cotton sheets.
Push a wandering mind
Deeper into the pillows
12:57
What could I be doing.
If I weren't here.
1:06
Staring into the dark.
Green glow silently screaming.

That Sam Clements was something...

Life is short. Break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile.
-- Mark Twain

In prep for Valentine's Day...

Pondering

Are things destined? Or do they just happen randomly?

"Well, look who I ran into," crowed Coincidence.
"Please," flirted Fate, "this was meant to be."

Of COURSE it is

Hey, haters.

Guess what?

Love wins.

The Court of Appeals has just ruled that Prop 8, California's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, is UNCONSTITUTIONAL!

That means the U.S. Supreme Court could decide in the next year or so whether gays and lesbians nationwide have the right to marry.

In the meantime, Iowa's ahead of the curve. And we have the perfect spot for a ceremony: UUSIC!