Update

Remember how I said my former student (classroom, not composition) and friend was in town for a contest?

She won!

Very happy and proud over here.

WF

meeting of the minds

Jawa Girl and I had the good fortune to have lunch with Jennifer Jolley and her husband today. Good food (it’s Manuel’s, so of course it’s good!) and good conversation. She’s in town for Atlanta Opera’s 24 Hour Opera Project.

If you’re not reading her blog or listening to her music, you’re missing out.

WF

radio silence

You’ll notice the blog was blacked out for most of today. Like many of us out here in the Series of Tubes, I was lodging my protest against SOPA/PIPA.

For more information, go here.

WF

So, this happened.

Yep, that’s me and Jawa Girl with President and Mrs. Carter. They still live in Plains, GA (pop. 675 or thereabouts) and we went down to hear him speak this weekend.

The mug I am holding was a gift from my beloved late Aunt Ginny, who was for many years the only other Democrat in the family (for all I know, that has not changed). It has a picture of President Carter on it.

Also, it seemed appropriate to wear a sweater when meeting the man.

WF

40

The countdown continues.

WF

you kids with your hip-hops

So I happened to watch one of those “celebrity gossip” shows for about two minutes the other day, and I have a question:

When did the definition of “celebrity” expand to include “someone on a reality TV show?”

Also, it looks like they’re including people who appear on some network called The C…W? Did I spell that right?

WF

me da

Happiest of birthdays to my father, John K. Flinn of Pinhook, IN, who turns 77 today. Love ya, old man.

WF
(who was probably not always the best son)

rock out with your caucus out

So the Iowa Caucus will be underway soon. Any predictions?

Here’s mine, based on almost no evidence:
(1) Romney in a squeaker
(2)/(3) Almost dead tie between Paul and Santorum
(4) Perry
(5) Gingrich
(6) Bachmann
(7) Someone will do something stupid, but it won’t get as much play as:
(8) The “Dean Scream” of 2004 will be overplayed, because that’s just how our so-called liberal media rolls. (Really, kids, if you didn’t have the microphone turned all the way up you wouldn’t have heard any of that.)
(9) Less than one tenth of one percent of the American public will have a disproportionate say in our electoral process.
(10) Huntsman

WF

x-42

I now know what the starting point is for my weight loss.

Wow.

It’s the highest its ever been, though at least it hasn’t broken one threshold I was convinced it would have.

So now we know. Will provide periodic updates.

WF

On the road to 42

Did 22 minutes of a 45 minute intense cardio/aerobics workout today. Couldn’t do all the push-up stuff, and the jumping jacks presented a challenge (what with the gut and all), but I did what I could and kept moving at a good rate of speed for 22 solid minutes. It’s not much, but it’s something.

Doing musical things too. Gonna be a good year.

WF

2012

(looks around, kicks the tires)

Oh, alright. We’ll take it.

WF

42

I really only have one “resolution” this year.

See that number up in the title? Not too large, not too small. It also has significance for those of us who enjoy British humor (excuse me, “humour”) and science fiction, and if you do enjoy British humor and science fiction you will know that significance.

It’s also the number of pounds I want to lose this year. Less than a pound a week. It isn’t my final weight loss goal, to be sure, but it is certainly accessible. Also, the lifestyle changes for weight loss along these lines are more likely to stick than more radical changes for greater weight loss. Finally, since it is not that high of a number, I could conceivably pass it as well.

Tomorrow I shall find a scale. (Whether or not I divulge the current number remains to be seen.) In one year’s time, I shall subtract 42 from that number and see if I made it.

Wish me luck!

WF

Odd for me

I’m drinking coffee this morning. I rarely do that. Maybe I should do it more.

(If you are in the least interested, I take it cream no sugar.)

WF

Annus horribilis

Well, it’s been a rough year. Job issues, lost Jawa Girl’s grandfather, etc…

Finished the PhD, so I guess that counts for something.

How was your year?

WF

Ho to the third

Whatever you celebrate, celebrate it well.

WF