congratulations!

Congratulations to John and Shelly Becker, now the proud parents of a delightful little girl, Marney Faye Becker, born February 26, 2009! No pictures yet, but I'll do my best.

She's going to be on my future softball team. It's already been decided. My fierce and gigantic niece Avery is my first team member--probably at pitcher, though she might have a center fielder's arm on her. We'll give little Marney Faye a few sprint tests before we place her, but I have a feeling she'd be a good third baseman. Maybe second base. We'll check her reflex time, and how steady her judgment is under pressure.

Now...here's the true question: Shelly's mom and my mom are first cousins. So what relation are Shelly and I--and what relation am I to Marney? Hmm. Second-thirds divided by six cousins with a double twist of lime? Not a clue.

Throw the party confetti!

proof!

Hey! I really did go to Florida...see? Check out those two cool chicks! It already seems like a long time ago...

a pair of ragged claws

Well, it's nearly time for the big V-day. Not that I really mind. It's such a silly holiday--there's no way it could have any lasting affect on my sensibilities. I just enjoy making fun of it. It presents such a large target.

But still, I cannot allow the holiday--coinciding so closely with my return from sunny Florida--to pass without a poetic moment. Without further ado, one of my favorite passages from Eliot's The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.

I grow old...I grow old...
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.

Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?
I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.

I do not think that they will sing to me.

I have seen them riding seaward on the waves
Combing the white hair of the waves blown back
When the wind blows the water white and black.

We have lingered in the chambers of the sea
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
Till human voices wake us, and we drown.

the whirlwind

Suddenly, and without warning, I find myself caught up in a whirlwind again. I suppose I was due--after all, I'd just had a few post-holiday weeks of sedate living with lots of time spent at the gym and with my temporary housemates.

I'm going to Florida on Saturday. This was decided...on Sunday. Crazy! I'll be back on the 12th, and will head back to work on the 13th and straight into a full weekend, then on into another busy work-week and then...

But I'm so far from complaining that complaining isn't even on the mile marker sign. I am excited, and all nice n' loose, ready for some spontaneity and a bit of the old bob-weave.

And, I must admit, as much as I love Michigan year 'round, I'm ready for a few days of sunshine and warm air.

Anti-Valentines Day

Well, as some of you know, I have a special, heartfelt, and very tasty Valentines' Day tradition.

I make hate cookies.

I am always in need of more suggestions, so feel free to chime in! I'll give you a couple weeks to think about it and give me some really good zingers.

I've got a list posted just outside my office, much to the delight of the editorial wing. Here are some of the ideas my colleagues have given me this week:

fragile
thanks for nothing
wimp
can't spell
fantastically dull
UR dumb
when pigs fly

One of our editors thought that all of the phrases had been written by bitter women. Oh, no! Not at all. As I was quick to remind him, this is an equal-opportunity hate fest. Please, join us.

things I've decided

1. I'm going to go gray naturally.
2. I'm addicted to chocolate, coffee, and doing things my way.
3. It's worth it to invest in good underwear and good jeans.
4. If I'm going to shed 10 pounds of fat, it's going to take more than just eating mostly healthy and exercising a bit.
5. I'm going to need new running shoes soon.
6. I do not regret my decision to avoid the bar scene, or to never get drunk.
7. I'm happiest when I'm being productive AND getting enough sleep.
8. I should ride my bike more. As soon as the snow melts.
9. I like fire.
10. Guys are scared of me.

running down

I have a gourmet chocolate-covered caramel on my desk. Right now. It's from another editor, who received the box as a thank-you from an author. We like authors that do that.

My goal is to sit and smell the caramel for at least ten minutes before I eat it.

Mmmm....ahhh.

This is hard for me. The more I like something the faster I want to eat it. Chocolate and caramel...yeah, I like. I LIKE. Mmmm....ahhh.

This is a bad habit, and one I want to break. Along with needing three heaping spoons of brown sugar in my oatmeal and not being willing to say no to free doughnuts of good quality.

I know, I know. This sounds like just another New Years' pipe dream. All the health and diet commercials have been getting to me, right? I hope not.

The truth is, I've been meeting my exercise goals for nearly three months now, and have yet to feel my pants loosen at all. I can lift more and run farther that I could last fall, so my time has not been spent in vain, but all the treats and parties of the holiday season have worked their usual black magic and held me captive to sugar.

Mmmm...Ahhh. Smells so good.

Will I be different this year? I don't care about being thin, but I do care about feeling healthy and fit. Can I be different this year? Cue my theme song.

...Running down a dream / That never would come to me...

Who knew Tom Petty could be inspirational? Mmm...aaahhh. Good, it's been ten minutes. Now, let's start with a nibble...