Stacey W

Stacey Williams. I don't understand the appeal of a lot of the modern models, but Stacey was different. That's because she looked healthy and fit. She also had a truly beautiful face, which makes a real difference.

She's athletic and it shows. She's also articulate, which is a huge plus.

Cazzy

So I watched this episode of "Two and a Half Men" on DVD. An actress named Cazzy had been billed as a guest star ("Girl #2"). As it turned out though, she only appeared for practically an instant and had no speaking role -- kinda like her appearance on "That 70s Show." She was basically there to look good.

The thing is, they could have hired a much less attractive actress for that part and it would have still been credible. What a waste, especially since it seems to me that she can act. (How well? I don't know for sure, but she can act.)

Barney

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A sad message

I received the following message from a friend. It has been slightly edited, but the sentiment remains.

Hello Everyone!

This is hard to email and will be a shock for you as it is for us but the nodules in my mom's lungs are cancer. She had a couple of them biopsied. The hardest part of this is that the doctors say it is incurable. This cancer is the same as her breast cancer and because it's in another location it's concidered stage 4 but I guess because it is in the lungs the treatment can only stop the nodules from growing. I'm not sure what else to say....Please intercede in prayer for us.

I have set up a CaringBridge website for my mom since I don't like sending out these mass emails. That way you can stay up to date through the webstie and also leave encouragement for my mom and family. Below is the information:

To keep you up to date on her, I created a CaringBridge website. You can follow Patricia’s progress and show your support.

You can visit her website in either of two easy ways:

1. Visit the CaringBridge website by clicking the link below.
<< link removed for privacy reasons >>

2. Enter the website name, << name removed for privacy reasons >>, at www.CaringBridge.org.


When you visit you’ll be asked to log in, because I’ve chosen to keep the site private.

Losing respect

I know that I've said it before, but I've really lost a lot of respect for Hope. She is a nice person with a lot of wonderful qualities, but I've lost a lot of respect for her now.

Her parents, on the other hand, are commendable and admirable. I respect them a lot.

Not a fan of the substitute

My Monday cardio bootcamp instructor was laid up for a few weeks due to a torn muscle. Another instructor, Donna, filled in for her. Donna isn’t very good, which is why attendance drops when she takes over. Donna’s movements tend to be horribly repetitive, and she doesn’t pour a lot of energy into her voice. I don’t think I’ll ever take another one of her classes.

When chivalry is misunderstood

I've been surprised at how vehemently some people denounce acts of chivalry -- you know, actions such as helping a woman down some difficult steps or pulling her chair out when seating at a table. "Don't do it for a woman if you wouldn't do it for a man!" they say.

I understand the sentiment, but I think it's overreacting. People shouldn't take offense at these gestures. They're not meant to imply that the other person is incapable of walking down steps by themselves, or that they can't open their own doors. These are just social niceties and signs of respect.

I like what Carrie Lukas said in her article from the National Review Online:

Gentlemanly conduct isn't about women at all. It's about men and their sense of themselves. Paul Anderson continues to say that he would give up his seat to someone truly in need, such as the elderly, pregnant women, and the disabled. But that's not gentlemanly, that's just humane.

A man giving up his seat to a woman who he knows is equally capable of standing on her own is different. It's a gesture that doesn't (as some feminist suggest) imply women are weak. It's a simple show of respect. Respect not just for the woman, but also for himself. It shows that this man believes himself to be a gentleman and holds himself to high standards. Those standards are more important than enjoying the comfort of a seat on his morning commute.

Resurrecting chivalry begins by remembering why it's important. Chivalry is part of a civil world. Women should welcome gentlemanly gestures, and graciously accept them with a thank you. I'll start by thanking the men of the Titanic, who 96 years ago gave up their seats so that the women could live.

Hope

I lost a lot of respect for my friend Hope this weekend.

Hope got married back in June. I never called her after that (in fact, I hardly ever called her beforehand); however, I would occasionally shoot her an e-mail message saying things like "Hey, how are you?" or "I'm really glad that you showed us photos from your trip" or "Just FYI, I told Mon that I really think that you picked a good husband" or words to that effect. Most of the time, she didn't respond, nor did I necessarily expect her to.

As it turns out though, she didn't like receiving those messages. Why? Because she was a married woman and she felt like these messages were an intrusion into her emotional boundaries.

I think she's being an idiot. I know that sounds kinda harsh, but I think it's true. She's not a dummy in general, but on this particular issue, she's being a bit of a jackass.

E-mail messages are not like telephone conversations. A quick message that says "I'm glad you folks got to visit" generally is not loaded with emotional content. It's not the sort of thing that should feel like an intrusion into one's marriage or emotional boundaries. Give me a break.

Most of these messages don't even require any response! Of course, a message that contains a direct question like "How are you?" may require a response -- though even then, many people understand that other folks are kinda busy. To say that this somehow constitutes a break of emotional protocol is simply dumb.

Hope, I have lost a great deal of respect for you.

This GAL is no bozo either!

I also appreciate Sylvia, this German lady who attends three of the gym classes that I go to. She is at least my age, if not older, and yet she puts in more effort than almost anyone else. I love having her around, and I’m always disappointed when she’s not there. (Except during the Monday bootcamp classes, perhaps. The class is large enough that I don’t necessarily notice her around. However, when she’s not attending the kickboxing and hi-lo classes, the energy level in the class is noticeably lower.)

During the hi-lo classes, we perform various demanding moves wherein we have to travel in a rectangular pattern. Most people don’t move very much during these exercises, and some pretty much just stay in one place while doing less energetic versions of the moves. I love it when Sylvia moves up next to me during those moves, as we get to compete with each other a little bit. We both like to cover a lot of ground during these moves, which is great.

Some would say that this is showing off, and to some extent, maybe it is. I think it is helpful for people to see others really taking it to the max, though. My Monday night instructor pretty much says the same thing when she says that we are there, not just for ourselves, but for everyone else as well.

This guy is no bozo

On a more positive note, there is another fella who attends the bootcamp classes. He puts in a lot of real energy and enthusiasm into his moves. So does his friend who used to attend these classes, though I did not see the friend this week.

I love it when there are people around me who push themselves hard. It makes a huge difference. It motivates me to work harder than I otherwise would.

This guy doesn’t always have good form. Due to his energy and enthusiasm, he sometimes gets too bouncy. His punches and kicks aren’t always well controlled. Still, he pours in plenty of effort, and I like that.

The bozo revisited

More about the bozo who barks like a dog during the cardio bootcamp classes that I attend…

Yesterday, I mentioned that he bragged about getting his second wind, and the instructor asked if when he got his first one. During the same session, when he was acting all bad*ss, the instructor also asked him if he was demonstrating the “low” versions of the moves. Heh.

Does this guy even realize how little effort he’s putting into his moves? He’s got no basis for bragging.

I’d be kinda pleased if he’d be kicked out of the gym. I know that would be a vast overreaction, but part of me thinks that it’d be kinda nice.

Barking gym bozo

I previously complained about this bozo who keeps barking like a dog during the cardio bootcamp classes at my gym. He keeps hollering stuff like “I love this!” even though he’s barely doing the moves. He wants to make it sound as though he’s all bad*ss, but he’s not putting any real effort in.

Last night, about 15 minutes into the hour-long bootcamp session, he yelled out, “I’m getting my second wind!” In a good-natured manner, the instructor asked, “When did you get the first one?” Oh, snap.

She seems to be pretty chummy with the guy, which may be why she’s not as annoyed with him as I am. Still, I wish that she’d tell him not to keep acting like he’s all bad*ss if he’s not really putting much effort into the work.

Of course, it would be difficult for anyone to take this guy aside and tell him that he’s making a fool of himself. That sort of thing just wouldn’t go over well. Sigh.

Why can’t he just move away?

A Hollywood Geek?

I found out that this comely actress named Olivia Munn is publishing a book called Suck it Wonder Woman!: The Misadventures of a Hollywood Geek.

I'd like to read it, but I'm not sure that I'd pay good money for it. It's an interesting concept to say the least.

BTW, when I say that she's a comely actress, I simply acknowledge that she's attractive. She doesn't really grab my attention, though some guys apparently think that she's way hot.

Worst kickboxing class ever

One of the local Bally Total Fitness studios has the worst kickboxing class that I've ever seen. The instructor spends most of the time prancing about, performing moves that bear no resemblance to anything that one would use in actual combat. A lot of easy bicep curls with no resistance, for example, as well as these weird moves where she's pushing her hands toward the floor.

I suppose that it'd be a perfectly good lightweight aerobic workout. Whatever it is though, it's not kickboxing. There's scarcely any kicking and hardly any boxing.

It's more of a lame dance workout, really. That's probably why you have this flamboyant fella up front hooting throughout the workout as though he were at a party. He's annoying as heck, and his shenanigans should not be tolerated in any real kickboxing class.

The Apprentice

I found this old (and kinda lame) discussion board of TV's "The Apprentice". On this board, a couple of guys apparently were discussing the episode in which Elizabeth Jarosz was fired. Based on the footage shown, this firing was richly deserved.

I did get to listen to some of her Fishbowl broadcasts though, and she impressed me more in those shows. Couple that with her performance during the finale, and this makes me think that she was more capable than she appeared to be at first.

I wish I could watch the commercial that she shot for Bally Total Fitness, though. That'd be kinda nice.

Long phone conversation

I just had a 2.5 hour phone conversation with a friend of mine. It was a very difficult conversation. She was whispering the whole time because she didn't want to wake her in-laws up. What's more, she was bringing up stuff that we had discussed many times before. She's kinda lacking in confidence; that's the problem.

She's a good friend, but that was tough.

Ezri

Boy, Nicole deBoer is a real cutie, isn't she? She's both incredibly cute and very pretty. She's got that kind of look.

Oh, and she was clearly in good shape. Or at least, she was during her single season on DS9. Wowza.

I thought that Terry Farrell was attractive, and indeed, she was a willowy beauty with great eyes. I think that Nicole blows her away though, even though she's not as statuesque. I just like her look a whole lot more.

Groggy meanderings

I'm tired and sleepy. I just had a long conversation with a friend, and I felt like dozing off during this time, even though she's a wonderful person.

Heck, I can barely type right now.

Man, I am so sleepy. I could use some rest, and I would love to hit the gym for a while. I have been overworked and I need my energy.

Came across the BioRes site. Now that looks interesting. Not flashy, but it has some valuable content.

I also like the HowStuffWorks site. Very educational.

You stink!

Tammie S, you stink! You're a liar. You have no integrity.

DM Sarge, you were a terrible human being a few years ago. I hope that you've changed your ways.

Amy T.... well, I wouldn't say that you stink, but I am disappointed in you.

David F, you're not a nice person.

Countless screaming argonauts

Gotta love those lyrics. It's humorous when someone sings about being an underperforming lighthouse and how this would have caused the deaths of Jasons and the crew of the Argo. Funny stuff.

The Da Vinci Code

I can't believe that a lot of people still take "The Da Vinci Code" seriously. Open up a history book, people! When Dan Brown says that the book is based on serious history, he's either lying or seriously deluded.

Of course, he later backed down from those claims, even though he had originally insisted that the book was based on solid historical facts. I think this shows that Dan Brown is not a very honest person. He clearly has no grasp of history.

Semirandom thoughts

I wish that I had time to watch that TV series, "Chuck." It looks like a lot of fun, and I've heard great things about it. I just need to curb my TV watching habits, though. I don't watch huge amounts of TV, but I probably watch more than what's optimal.

I do watch "Heroes," but I don't follow the sotrylines very closely. BTW, even though she doesn't appeal to me, I bet that a lot of guys go for that Hayden Panettiere gal. I would also like to watch "Pushing Daisies," perhaps while getting some work done.

I came across the 01webdirectory site. Interesting. Kinda.

Discovering the Big Bang Theory

I recently discovered "The Big Bang Theory" on TV -- or rather, on DVD. Now that is a funny show! A lot of comedic talent there.

The four male leads are all hilarious, and it's patently obvious that Kaley Cuoco isn't just a pretty face. I also loved seeing the relationships between them grow and how much Penny has become thoroughly integrated into their little group.

Funny, funny stuff. I think the humor is a little bit tasteless at times, in part because I favor more conservative humor. Still, I can't deny that the writing is clever and that the comedic acting is excellent.

Whither April?

Whatever happened to April Lerman?

Well, I found out that she did some acting in a stage production of Annie. She also did some skin flick, to my disappointment.

She was so cute as one of the children on the first season of "Charles in Charge." They revamped the cast for the following year, and I didn't like the new folks as much. This, despite the cover girl appeal of Nicole Eggert.