Bowled Over

A few weeks ago, I was preparing to go to Philly, and I knew I would miss my once-a-month Saturday bowling league. So I went over to the bowling alley to prebowl for the league. As I was at the desk receiving my lane assignment, I glanced over at the other side of the house, where a summer league was having its first night meeting. I thought I spotted an old friend from the volleyball era, whom I hadn't seen in years. Sure enough, I went over there, and there he was with his best buddy, like bookends...and I was catapulted back in time. No idea they were still bowling in leagues there, probably because we don't turn up on weeknights anymore.

Making a long story short, they needed another teammate, and hubby didn't want to do it, so I agreed. 8:30pm is late for me to start bowling on a weeknight (recalling that I'm usually up at 0500 or 0530) but what the heck. I've wanted to get back into a better groove -- I used to bowl on a weekly league for many years until I was 8 months pregnant with Son #1 (and I threw my high game that night, 231, with odd center of gravity...another story).

In the two weeks I've been on this league, I've been amazed by the level of skill. Normally a mixed league is just that -- mixed -- but this one has a lot of men compared to women, and a bunch of the ladies are really great bowlers too. One guy rolled a 299 last night. Our opponents had scratch totals of well over 700, and the last game 840 (for four players). I remain in awe! And I could use more sleep. :-)

Workin' for a Living

If you're old enough to recall that Huey Lewis & the News song, start humming or singing it and you may find you can't get it out of your head. I thought of it when my 15-year-old was figuring out his schedule for this week (and the next four). Last week he began a part time job at a legal firm in town, joining a crew of high school students who help create folders, pull files, and keep the attorneys organized for client meetings and court appearances. This week he began a summer theater arts workshop at the high school, which he also did last year and enjoyed. His day today:

• wake at 8am
• leave at 8:45am
• ride bike 3 1/2 miles across town to high school, allowing for traffic situations, to arrive in plenty of time for 9:30 start
• workshop until 1:00
• change into business clothes and ride back across town to the law office
• eat lunch and show up in plenty of time for 2:00 start
• work until 6:00
• arrive home around 6:10

Granted, it isn't my 40 minute commute, but he'll be able to know what it feels like to be an average working class slob. And he'll have to deal with time management, and coping with staying on a schedule when others do their best to make you late (f'rinstance if theater ends later than 1:00). And he'll be a better person for it.

I have to admit I'm taking a perverse pleasure in the fact that I won't be the last one in our household to arrive home after work...heh heh... :-)

Growing and Stretching

Son #1 turned 15 yesterday. Eek that means the mom feels one step away from fossil. :-)

He had the good fortune to be recruited, along with a handful of other ninth grade honors English students, for part time work at a law firm in town, to replace some of their helpers who are graduating from high school this week. We got him a "work wardrobe" consisting of a few pairs of khakis, brown slip-ons, appropriate dress socks, and a handful of short sleeve collared shirts. This Monday was his first training session. He's great on paper -- hence his fantastic grades -- but shy with people, so we were coaching him as to the types of questions to ask (such as how much the job pays!) and to ask questions as a rule.

So off he went. Rode his bike the couple of miles into town and locked the bike to a pole across the sidewalk, on the same side of the street. Training session went great, but I got a call from him when he finished work to say that his bike was gone. Sigh. This wasn't an expensive bike, and he'd kind of outgrown it...but still...he was upset...and what kind of lousy character would steal a kid's bike?

Anyway, I encouraged him to go back in and tell his supervisor about it, and I'd talk to him in a little while. He worked out a better arrangement for a safer place to lock up another bike when he'd gotten one (which we took care of via Craig's List that evening, yippee) and got a very kind offer for a ride home from one of the partners. After dinner I drove him over to the police precinct where he filed a report. Afterwards I explained to him that he'd be looking to get his learner's permit to drive a car in another year, and sooner or later Murphy's Law would dictate that he'd be involved in an accident...so this was good experience.

I hope that, sometime soon, my son will be more comfortable seeking these opportunities to stretch his skill set instead of relying on suggestions from Mama and Papa Bear. In the blink of an eye he'll be entering college, with any luck on scholarship, and he can't be calling us seventeen times a day to ask about trifles. My poor kids don't like it when I tell them that Mom and Dad will be dead someday and they have to start learning to do things themselves. :-)

Off the Food Wagon

Ever been to downtown Philadelphia near the convention center? Yes? Ever visit a place called the Reading Terminal Market? Yes? I hope you have a great exercise plan and a lot of self control.

The terminal market reminds me of Quincy Market in Boston. So many different kinds of food stands, including: cheesesteaks (obviously), Chinese, falafel, seafood, Italian, Cajun, Indian, frankfurters, ice cream, bakeries, Jewish deli, sushi...but also retail meats and fish and groceries and a big produce section in the back. The food orgy began when my coworkers and I arrived on Saturday at lunchtime and hit the hoagie stands towards the front of the market. Mine had meatballs, fresh oregano, and provolone. My two colleagues had corned beef, with homemade potato chips on the side.

Saturday night I was entertained by high school/college friends who live in the 'burbs...and we found a marvelous Mediterranean place that serves small plates like tapas. So we sampled some roasted veggies, chicken, beef, garlic infused gnocchi...mmmmmm. We walked around town for a while longer and then they steered me into a gelato parlor. Gadzooks, all those interesting flavors...I settled on a small scoop of banana chocolate. I can't eat like that under ordinary circumstances though...four or five little meals a day usually...so it was off to the fitness center that night...accessible 24 hours, 7 days a week in the hotel. 20 minutes on each of the elliptical, cycle, and stair stepper.

Sunday's lunch got a bit more creative. I'd walked around the historic section of Philly -- my one large chunk of sightseeing time -- and then wanted to eat before I went back to the hotel for another shower and then to change into work clothes and go over to the convention center. I had really wanted something from the Italian bakery towards the front of the market...so I decided to compromise. My appetizer was a horseshoe pastry with slivered toasted almonds and chocolate. Main course was a yummy shrimp cocktail...homemade sauce...the really large shrimp (yeah, oxymoron, I know). Dessert was a little chocolate cake with hazelnut cream from a bakery all the way in the back called the Flying Monkey. But yes I did go to the gym again that night...because although I did well with dinner (tilapia with roasted zucchini and spaghetti squash) my coworker noticed a Krispy Kreme shop as we were walking back to the hotel.

Monday I figured I had to try a cheesesteak for lunch -- the old "when in Rome" thing -- since we were headed home the next night. I'm not a red meat lover so I chose chicken with spinach, garlic, and provolone. Couldn't finish it, didn't try. That night our wonderful management team took us to an Oriental place -- similar format as the Mediterranean restaurant -- where I did okay with some veggie dumplings and some shrimp Pad Thai -- but sampled other people's desserts (chocolate lava cake and chocolate sorbet). Back on the elliptical and the exercycle after we returned to the hotel that night.

I could just about fit into my clothes after returning home, and back to my usual dietary regimen...but wow that was scary to fall into such habits for a few days and only be balanced by an hour of daily exercise which of course I can't do at home. I have been thinking of joining a gym but haven't yet taken the plunge. I am regarding this as a bullet dodged! We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming...whew...

Un-freakin-believable Elected Officials

What is it with these people??? And what is it with the rules that govern the people who are elected (or appointed) to these governing bodies?

It's pretty clear that people who run for office are going to have their private lives analyzed with a microscope. What do they think? Once they're in, they can rip their moral fiber to shreds?

Maybe some friends and leeches will enjoy associating with the fat cats who have so-called "privileges" that can be fun in extracurricular fashion. But don't these officials know that their enemies and rivals will be watching with a critical eye? Doesn't it stand to reason that they may even pay for surveillance and detective work, call in favors, and/or look for people who are willing to be double agents? Once elected or appointed, all public and private behavior needs to be im-freakin-peccably clean as a whistle and beyond reproach! We're even talking stuff like making sure you tip 25%+ in restaurants in case a reporter talks to the waitstaff after you've been whisked away in your limo, fercryinoutloud.

So, all right, not everyone can live up to the goody-two-shoes image, and many of these guys are taken down on ethics violations because of some fine investigative work. Too bad, game over. But to piss all over your own profile by doing something public, like painting outside the lines on Twitter or elsewhere on the Internet? That's what I call being a well educated idiot.

Now we move on to the agencies or commissions or courts (or whatever) that have authority over the governing bodies and the officials contained therein. Why would it be so wrong, when these people are sworn in, to tell them, "Look, pal, consider yourself to be living in a monastery for the entire duration of your term, because if you do anything that's even remotely unethical -- we won't even mention illegal -- you're bounced out of office, no questions asked, and blacklisted from politics permanently!" And then be prepared to back it up with swift action when they dare to cross the line, or even step on it with a threat of proceeding.

Do this, and let's see who continues to run for office. I'm not talking about political parties now, nor am I opening up a religious can of worms here. There are creeps and slobs in every political and religious group, as there are decent hardworking mensches in each corner. We need the decent ones in office. Please. And then send all the emotional juveniles to a whorehouse or a cockfight or a floating crap game or wherever else they're going to get their jollies...and the rest of us can figure out how best to do what we need to do.