On the way back to my office, I stopped by the IBM Rec Center, and walked for 30 minutes around the outdoor track there.
I listened to several podcasts during the walk, and was laughing at several of them. I'm sure the people passing me from the on-coming direction thought I was a little "off." Or just the big ole' geek that I am.
I completed my "PBCs" (Personal Business Commitments) for 2006.
This is the document in which we attempt to list all of the contributions we're going to make this year, against which we'll be evaluated on at the end of the year.
Let's just say it's the one big opportunity everyone gets each year to do some good creative writing.
From work, I drove directly to Lake Johnson and did the 3-mile walk around the lake. Once again, I listened to a lot of podcasts and laughed out loud at a few of them while passing people.
Here is a list of the titles of several of the podcasts I listened to:
- An Insider's Guide to Trader Joe's
- Fake Breasts in the Real O.C.
- The Best Magazine You've Never Read
- Dodging the Draft
- Changing Clothes for Fun and Profit
- Betting Against the Home Team
- Scratching Domenech
- The Little Coffee Plant That Wouldn't Die
- The Mystery of "Sweet Caroline" and the Red Sox
- Of 'A Million Ways' to Be Popular, 'OK Go' Finds One
- Mrs. Parmeter's Klan Quilt
- Can I Tamper With My Witness?
- Can a Cyclone Do as Much Damage as an Atomic Bomb?
- What is a Sentinel Duck?
- Why Do Giant Tortoises Live So Long?
- What's a World Passport?
- Should I Sue Bush or Rumsfeld?
- What a Piece of Crap
Wisdom from the mouths of babes -- on marriage and dating:
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHOM TO MARRY?
You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. -- Alan, age 10
No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. -- Kristen, age 10
WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. -- Camille, age 10
No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married. -- Freddie, age 6 (very wise for his age)
HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. -- Derrick, age 8
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids. -- Lori, age 8
WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. -- Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure)
On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. -- Martin, age 10
WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?
I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns. -- Craig, age 9
WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
When they're rich. Pam -- age 7
The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that - - Curt, age 7
The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. -- Howard, age 8
IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
I don't know which is better, but I'll tell you one thing. I'm never going to have sex with my wife. I don't want to be all grossed out. -- Theodore, age 8
It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. -- Anita, age 9 (bless you child)
HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there? -- Kelvin, age 8
And the #1 Favorite is...
HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck. -- Ricky, age 10