Manic Monday: Nuts

Our 9-year-old nephew shared the following video with us recently. Isn't it just nuts what amuses a 9-year-old boy? (Okay, and maybe his much older uncles as well.)

The Newly Minted United States Dollar

In Case You Haven't Seen This Yet: Political

Wordless Wednesday

Je Suis in Deep Doodoo

Like all good boys and girls, I am headed back to school. I have my backpack, my new notebook, and loads of pens and pencils. What I don't have, however, is the hours of practice behind me that I was supposed to be racking up during break.

That's right. It's French class, level 104 and I'm realizing that I let three whole weeks go by without one minute of practice. Simply put...I'm screwed. I have the same teacher that I did for 103 and she's tough. She's not going to show any mercy to my rusty little mind.

It'll be good to be back in class. It does keep me frightened just enough to study nearly every evening throughout the week. I suppose that's why I was secretly enjoying so much time off.

I'm hoping, at this point, that the time away actually will make my mind sharper and everything will come flooding back. But the fact that I couldn't remember how to say "autumn" (automne) the other day has got me a little worried! Merde!

Manic Monday: Formula

This weekend, as I was sipping my Jamba Juice, getting all of my pomegranate antioxidants and other all-natural fruit benefits, I had a case of sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia. Don't worry, my most precious parts weren't in danger of falling off. As I learned this weekend, this is simply the technical term for what us common folk refer to as good ole' "brain freeze."

Relying on an old formula for relief, I instantly placed my tongue on the roof of my mouth, holding it there to create warmth. This always seems to work for me and has some scientific validity since it is the cooling of the palate that causes the excruciating pain associated with this condition.

Now excuse me as I double-check to make sure that I understood this term correctly and that my most precious parts really haven't fallen off.

Where Do All the Neurotics Live?

This is a psychogeography map. By way of survey, psychologists are able to map the five different dimensions of human personality and show that personality types seem to cluster geographically. I found this to be really interesting.

The above map shows the neurotic types and where they live. Can you believe that? Are they saying that I am neurotic? Do they really know what they are talking about? I mean, I've spent hours in therapy to get over my issues, how dare they label me.

On second thought, maybe I am neurotic. But what if I am neurotic? What does this mean for my future? How can I avoid from acting out? Or what if I am doomed to a lifetime of worrying and acting impulsively and...Why me, God. Why does this always happen to me? Where are my meds?!

Okay, I'm calming down...If you're curious about your geographic area, take a look at the other maps. And see if you find it as curious as I do that large parts of the country seem not to have any personality at all. Hmmm. Check them out and see what they might say about you and those you live around! Just have your therapist's number nearby in case.

A Night of Fabulousness

On Tuesday evening, me and my partner went to the Celine Dion concert at Madison Square Garden. It was a great evening filled with Ms. Dion in all her glory. And all I have to say is, Dang that girl can sing!!

Now we're not the start-crying-and-shaking-and-wetting-ourselves kind of fans, although we saw plenty of their kind at the concert. We just really like her voice and many of the songs she has recorded. We even have her French albums.

I will say that she looks amazing! And her outfits (she had many changes, of course) were stunning. I can only imagine the staff she has working for her (or rather on her) backstage. That might be interesting career choice. Oh, what am I saying. I was really born to be on the stage, not behind it. Let's just be honest.

So a great time was had by all: the weeping women, the gaggles of gay men, the diva watchers, and so on. The only people who might not have enjoyed as much were the straight men who were dragged there by their girlfriends. But I'm thinking even they made out okay in the end (all puns intended). Celine can work magic, you know.

Wordless Wednesday

It's a Relaunch Party!!

After some time away (The people at the "hotel" where I stayed were really nice. I just can't figure out why they kept giving me free "candy" and were all wearing white lab coats. Hmm.), I have decided to make my grand return to the world of blogging! Yes, you heard me. I'm back. So crack the champagne, give the kids a free night off of homework, and gather 'round.

I don't even know where to start in order to catch you up on the past few months of my life. How about this: studying French, conscious eating ("colon cleansing" as Janna likes to refer to it), book writing, working, going to the beach, refinancing, exercising, reading, reading, reading, exploring the city, reconnecting, watching movies, and just plain enjoying. Phew. Okay, you're all caught up. Now it's like we've never been apart, right?

I realized I had been gone too long when I came back to blogger and the whole format of the dashboard had changed and there was something new called "followers" (is the polite term for stalkers?). I also realized it when my faithful readers started sending me those thoughtful "You haven't died, have you?" messages.

So hang onto your hats because it promises to be a whole new season of adventures! (Wow, I'm like a returning television series...how fabulous!)