loopy parents
Mood:  quizzical
Now Playing: ocho ocho
Topic: Family
my parents lost their minds. They have been handing around me quite a bit. Ok, not a problem. But I noticed that was weird. So last night they called me 3 times while I was in class. When I called them back, they said they need to come over and talk to me RIGHT NOW. I was freaking out all the way home. They couldn't just come out and say it. They think I have a thyroid condition because they noticed my hands were shaking twice. They lost their minds. They want me to go get a blood test from this endocrenologist. I am like, what? I know my hands don't shake, unless I've got them on a bad angle or if I'm nervous or something. So whatever. I'll get the test done for their peace of mind. Then I'll never take them seriously again, and I'll ask them to in return get their heads checked, and stop watching cable hospital shows.

1st day riding the 420 with Erin
Now Playing: My Bonnie
Topic: Active
My bonnie is over the ocean
My bonnie is over the sea
My bonnie is over the ocean
Oh bring back my bonnie to me
Bring back bring back bring back my bonnie to me to me.

One of the first songs I learned in English. Back in the Soviet Union.

Class today was great. I'm pretty sore from it though - great workout. When we got in, we walked straight to the dock and rigged our boats. Erin and I named our boat "Oh Shit!". Because that's what we said every 5 minutes while we were on it. The people in the class are really cool, lots of them are European college students.

Anyway, we got in the water and Erin made me play skipper. We did ok - no capsising, but Erin refused to drive. We switched and she panicked shortly after. She was shaking. She told me she was in some crappy boat accident and how people forced her to learn when she was younder. I took back over. Wish she said something before we embarked, maybe Kristin, our instructor, could have talked her through it. When we disembarked, Erin promiced she'll drive next time. She's skipping the class Wednesday - too bad.

7.48
Topic: On the way to Triathlon
ran and swam today. ran a one mile lap in 7 min 47 seconds. Gave it all I got. Afterwards, I didn't have much left. Did the other laps to the 5K in my usual 9:30. But at least now I know I can. Got a little better with the swimming, trying Dave's advice to roll and the S curve. Needs much more work.

bf
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: Jet Cold Hard Bitch
Topic: my own bachelorette show
BF got his tix. He be here 7/30. Woo Hoo! Who is this mysterious BF, you may ask? I'll find out in two weeks. In the meantime, he is a very interesting person with a great outlook on life and a great bod. I'm pumped up.

Sailing School Day 2: Capsise test
Mood:  caffeinated
Now Playing: Something beach boys
Topic: Active
Today I had my second 420 class. Rigged the boat by myself - made two mistakes. Next time I won't. Did the capsise test. I forgot how much I am afraid of the water. Got a new life vest. I'm all about buying sports equipment right now - bikes, wet suits, fly fishing gear, golf stuff. Wow this stuff is expensive but worth it. Sailing class was a lot of fun! Next week we are actually sailing.

projectile diarrhea
Mood:  don't ask
Now Playing: Roses smell a little like poo poo by outcast
Topic: pets
MoMo has had diarrhea, the projectile kind, for the last 2 days. First it was outside, and I thought it was a one-time deal. Then it was last night in the kitchen, all over the walls and fridge and floor. The sheer force on the floor and walls evident from the markings was frightening. Took a good hour to clean up and sanitize. Now today when I came home from work, there was even more. This time on the living room floor. One word for you. CARPET. Ouch. If it persists, will take her to the vet in the morning. Poor Poo Poo.

Aftereffects
Mood:  cheeky
Now Playing: One World Reggae
Topic: On the way to Triathlon
My parents came over promptly at 8 am so that we could go over to the Chris Zorich Foundation 5K. Bejoy called too and said he was coming. We parked next to Jen's house and walked over from Grand Central Station to Soldier field. The race was hard and long. I was hoping to beat my 9:10 time, but instead I ended up running a 10 minute pace! 31:00 min! What happened? I placed 54th overall and 13th in my age group. BJ placed 199 with a 13 minute pace and 40:24 overall time. Guess I shouldn't have smoked 3 cigars and had 15 drinks the night before, followed up with only 5 hours of sleep, eh?

Partay
Mood:  cool
Now Playing: roll out
Topic: Day to Day
Woke up just in time to get a call from my parents. they were at the dentist. Lately they've been pretty needy. Calling me every day and trying to see me 10 times a weekend. I asked them flat out if anyone was dying or something. Maybe they're just worried I'm going to move out of state. Last night they called and told me they'd be at the dentist and afterwards they wanted to use up their lettuce entertainment gift certificate. We decided to go to cafe ba'ba'reba since Brasserie Jo, my favorite, was closed for lunch. The place is a little overpriced for Tapas - my first time there. Iberico is still #1. Then we went and looked at a bunch of stores up and down halsted. Then I went home to let the dog out, changed, and headed over to meet GP at Alumni. She was supposed to take me to this new restaurant by her work, but the Sicilian and the Lawhole were going to be there, and she just couldn't take it.

GP now has email! woo hoo!

Anyway, I brought with me my two left-over cigars. We were drinking on the patio, I was smoking, and we were playing golf. AA and VK came out too. Right before they came out, I saw these two hot guys walk in. Prrrrrr! I sent them over drinks right away. I'm so uninhibited sometimes. Nothing to do with the drinks - I only had one at that point. Then we got adopted/absorbed into a bachelor party that hooked me up with a third cigar, and got us more drinks. The two hot guys sent GP and I drinks back. Then AA and VK, who had fun playing golf with us, took off.

Our waitress, Ann, rocked by the way, cuz she put up with all of our demands and never left us dry on drinks. She told me in the beginning when she sent them drinks, that they didn't speak any English. SCORE! She was so curious where they were from and asked them. She then told us they were Italian. Non han problemas! After a few more drinks from the two hot guys, we started making Ann carry notes back and forth. Bummer that I didn't keep some of them as a souvenir. Finally, after about 2 yager bombs and 4 beers. GP and I walked over. Turned out one of them was Finnish and married. His name was Shimu - I'm scrambling for privacy. The other one had huge Egyptian rings on his fingers, but no band. He had long, curly hair and a 3-band beard, and Italian. I'll call him Tomato Soup because that's what GP thinks his name sounds like. Barbuso i panchuso. The two guys couldn't even speak the same language. So they just stood there. They work together, one speaks like a few English words - Shimu. The other doesn't at all. Shimu lived in Italy for a year so I guess he could understand what Tomato Soup was saying, but that's all. Not much could go back the other way.

I lived in Italy for almost a year and at that point I was somewhat fluent in the language. But when we got here, I had to learn English and so Italian got pushed out. Not only that, but this was 15 years ago! And then in college, I took a summer crash course in Italian. It was an audit and I hardly went. So my Italian was ehh, questionable at best. That and I kept code-switching with Spanish. Nevertheless, we grabbed the guys and started playing that horseshoe-like bean bag game - the same one I loved so much with washers in Mexico. The foreigners won both times. Diabolico!

GP left at 11 because she was tired, and reminded me sternly that I had a 5 K to run in the morning and that I aught to go too. Problem was that LP called an hour ago and said she was coming. I went into my car and sat there to decide what to do. I was worried what she'd show up and not find me there and wait and look. I went into my car to charge my phone and call her. When I sat down, my phone rang and it was Tomato Soup. That was quick. He wanted to make me dinner sometime. We picked Tuesday night and I got his address.

I got a hold of LP on her dad's cell -she lost hers last week and has been going gonzo without it. She was already here and I went to find her. We stayed for 30 minutes and then took off. I went home and hit the sack. Running in the morning.

ryan adams
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: ryan adams
Topic: my own bachelorette show
Got a very nice letter from bf today. what a great guy. I think I'll fly him out here one of those days and give him the time of his life. He deserves it already. Besides, he's fun and I think we'd have a lot of fun together.

golf league, finally in; gina and addie first times
Mood:  cheeky
Now Playing: 1974 by ryan adams
Topic: Golf
Left work at 4:15 and went to GP's office. It's inside an old barn, I couldn't believe it. Not too bad actually, a one room suite with what looks like Frank's bedroom connected to it. Marc was there and GP kept calling me on my drive to see how far I was, cause she couldn't wait to get the heck out. I walked in with her once I finally found the place and she said "the asshole is there". I walked in and said "hi asshole". The asshole didn't even turn around, he knew it was me. "Hi IL, how are you?" he responded. Lawyers! We queued up directions to the course, and off we went in my car.

AA met us there. It started to rain. GP did real well, the technique and the stroke is definitely fantastic after one day, only thing is that it will take her some time to believe that it's going to make the ball go if she keeps doing it. AA turned out to be a natural. At my barbeque, he was showing me how to use the shanai, the kendo sword/stick. I mentioned to him it seemed similar to golf. After I showed him the golf swing, he confirmed that it really was. He did really well. Something like $150 yards his first day! Only that he is way off to the right, maybe he's twisting the club face too much or coming in too under the ball or something. I don't know if I can help much there. But I think we'll need to get JK in and have a best ball game with the four of us.

Before I left work, I called SC, the golf league person. It's been at least two weeks since I sent in my check and I haven't heard back. I am eager to play. She told me she'd send my number around to some folks looking for singles.

While I was showing GP and AA how to play, my cell rang. It turned out that it was Iris, (lol AY, how do you like that?) and that they had a spot for me on the 8:30 am Friday league. I'm in. Right now I don't mind missing work. I'll do a half day on Friday, call it working from home, and hit some golf balls. With Iris and Stella. One is AY's pet, one is mine. Ironic!!!

I was hitting pretty well, in the 200ds, completely straight.

I broke in my rescue club - iron wood, and it does about 120, straight and easy off the grass. Wonderbar!