What made you smile today?

Isn't it interesting how normal this feels after just a couple of minutes? In my gym back in Munich, the saunas and steam baths were co-ed, clothing optional and almost unknown. I started out being self-conscious about it, and being overweight didn't help there; so I avoided the sauna for the first few weeks. But once I gave myself a push and did go, it felt perfectly normal after just ten minutes. Now that I'm in America, it's the gender-segregated, please-use-towel-in-place-of-fig-leaf regime in my new gym's sauna that makes me uncomfortable. And strangely, this discomfort hasn't gone away yet.

(I almost posted about that, Thomas - I meant the plaque in Santa Fe.)


re smiling - a friend and I talking about watching sports, the imagery.. of thoroughbreds running, clydesdales running, wide receivers catching footballs, Willy Mays catching a baseball, olympic swimmers being water torpedos, my swimming teacher doing the butterfly: mind movies.

Your George Carlin sigline made me smile, Thomas.

Nothing.

Sorry to hear that.

Today sucks. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

You know what Scarlett O'Hara always said...

Diet Mountain Dew...a smile with every sip!

Tyrius, welcome back.

Thanks =]

A long distance call with a lovely British accent, and a laugh like tinkling bells...

I took the kids tho the Library and a lady got a reserved copy of " The Three cups of Tea" The lady after her said " Is their anyway I can get a copy of the "Three Cups of Tea". The gentleman at the front desk looking very puzzled said " I have no idea what this book is about but everyone wants it". She sighed and replied " It is summer reading for my Son in High school"

I felt my eyes getting wet and my 8yo son's face lighted up as he recalled how he sneaked in and read parts of that book while I was reading it and then decided to dress up as Greg Mortenson for his end of summer book parade at school.

I only hesitated for a moment before approaching her to offer her one of my copies. I had reordered more copies for gifts lately and because of my recent move they were in some box. I reassured her I will be able to find it. She looked relieved and surprised to discover I live in the same community where she is supposed to drop her son today. I found the book in the very first box I looked in !!! Called her and today while I was at my hair appointment she came and my son handed her the book.

I am still silently smiling, there is hope , people in this ritzy Jewish town are reading about a place where children sit down on bare floor to write their multiplication tables on the dirt with sticks waiting for the teacher who comes every other day. They are reading about how an American Mountaineer turned activist is welcomed in the so called Terrorist areas so their children could read.

Smiling to see Tyrius show up here.

ahhhhh -- that's sweet. Accurate too, but very sweet indeed.

Reading here...

applying for college for free!

not needing transcripts!

I got my first social security retirement check.

rjb, Congrats! It's easy to take, isn't it? LOL I've been collecting since 63, and enjoying every month of it even though my wife gets more.