Melonade

Watch out, people. Seems that it's no longer acceptable to be funny on your blog.

I guess it was just a slow news day last week when someone decided that Ken Jennings took his blogging just a wee bit too far. If you've only read the news-bullies' excerpts and not the actual post, go ahead.

No really, I'll wait.

You thought it was funny, didn't you? I know you did. So did I. Even better, KJ posted both a correction and a follow-up after all the brou-ha-ha appeared.

Clearly, the guy is just having some fun. It's appalling, then, that people are posting angry comments and saying he's mean and ungrateful. I don't know who started it, but I'm inclined to blame all the papparazzi and Al Gore.

Dear Ken Jennings:

Bravo to you for bringing some good-natured humor to my daily browsings. You've made it acceptable, nay, even praiseworthy, to know lots and lots of random things. If not for folks like you, I would be afraid that the only things in this world are violence, astronomical gas prices, and cancer. I only hope that the stupidity of some brings you more devoted fans.

Sincerely,
Melonade

I'm just trying to remember why I ever picked this template for the blog reincarnation. Was it so yellow at the time? Maybe I was in a dingy mood that day.

Last week's softball game was a nice break from the usual tennis-themed Wednesday evening. I didn't participate as much as I had planned, but Tina persuaded me to bat for her once, and I got a nice hit past first on the first pitch (although I don't remember if she made it to the base or not; I was just relieved to not embarrass myself). We'll see if I can remain embarrassment-free for the rest of the week.

Does anyone else think it's insane that we've had triple-digit temps for the week? Mark this down. You know we'll try to use it to impress our grandchildren, and it give it some silly name. The Great Heat of '06. Run from the sun! Don't expose your skin! Hide your ice cubes! (Apparently Loraine will still be kickin' at 100+. And I totally believe it, too. I, on the other hand, cannont imagine myself at 50.) Of course, our grandchildren will probably be living in underground colonies when they're our age because we decimated the planet's surface. Take pictures now, people. Your offspring will want to know what a tree looks like.

Disclaimer: The author of this blog does not actually belive that your grandchildren will be living like ants. The brain-melting heat has merely caused her imagination to run far, far away.

Okay, so the nerd in me really wants (Wait. Scratch that. Who am I kidding here? I am about 90% nerd.)

Okay, so I really want to see Wordplay.

Yeah, it's true. And I'm not ashamed to admit it. I love crossword puzzles, and I like that we puzzlers have a documentary we can call our own. Take that, penguin lovers (No wait. I like those penguins, too. Scratch that.)




It looks like Wordplay is playing next week at AMC. Finally! Anyone who's interested is more than welcome to come along.

And the first person to tell me that they've read this post also gets his/her choice of 1) Free Movie Ticket (and it doesn't even have to be this movie), or 2)Free Dinner of Your Choice.*

*Only OKC-area residents are eligible for this free offer. Sorry, kids.

If soreness is any indication of improvement, I have advanced quite a bit this week. I find it a bit odd that after playing on Wednesday night, I never ache on Thursday. Is this delay normal for the sport, or is my body just slower than it used to be?

I'd hate to jinx it, but I think I'm getting a little better. That's not to say that I'm prepared for a real game (if anything, this week's episode should have proven that I am not anywhere close to ready). Even with good teachers, I was pretty frustrated with myself on Wednesday. I missed balls I should have hit. The backhand leaves much to be desired, too. And my flying attempts at some shots brought flashbacks of 1st grade softball practices. I still panic when a ball comes speeding at me. I guess after 20 years, my methods haven't really changed.

Enjoy your day.

Counting Crows has been getting more airplay from me recently, especially since the new live album was released. (Right now, Goodnight Elisabeth. I love that you can hear the audience singing along.) They're not always office-appropriate, but they are very traffic- appropriate. These guys like to put a lot of geography into their songs. Here are a few places referenced in CC songs:

Miami
New Orleans
Baton Rouge
Baltimore
Omaha
Reno
Utah
Hollywood
California
Spain

Maybe they're just fans of travel, or maybe this is what happens to you when you're on the road for too long. (Now Catapult, from Across the Wire)

I wish I had the time for some real travel (translated: anything in a state that touches Oklahoma doesn't count as real travel). Europe would be ideal. Especially London, since I didn't get to see enough of it the first time. Five years ago I was there-- before everything changed.

It's not surprising that I'm so fixated on travel right now. I've got to find some place to go for next year's 1000 in 2007 campaign.

Any suggestions?

Okay, so it's been two months since the last post. I'm okay with that. You should be, too. That is, you who live close and can just talk to me in person should be okay with that. You who are states, nay, even countries away from me...well, you have a right to be irrate.

I could make a list of reasons why the blog has suffered. Gateway, float trip, novel, life in general...but that gets old, I know. Or I could just suck it up and blog.

But before you say yes, I ask you this: do you really want to hear all about the skin-peeling aftermath of the float trip? It goes something like this: Week One: Live in absolute pain and slather myself with healing goo every few hours. Week Two: Lose top layer of dermis like so many snakes. Week Three (forthcoming): Hope that I can once again wear shorts/capris without looking like someone took a baseball bat to my shins. (P.S. - Yes, I used sunscreen.) I could tell you about the presumably drunken frat boy standing in the river wearing a bikini bottom and threatening to take it off as our raftload of girls shielded our eyes and paddled furiously by...eww.

On another drier front, I am learning how to play tennis. Every Wednesday after church, a few of us play until the lights shut off. I have not played a real game yet. Everyone else is actually good at the game, and so I am completely intimidated and even more clutzy than usual. But they have taken pity on me by giving informal lessons and telling me that I actually am improving. I should be investing in my own racket very soon.

I'm sure there's more to tell, but I should save it for another day if I'm going to make this reincarnation last.

Enjoy your day.