Here is an amusing page from Housekeeping Monthly circa 1955. It contains such gems as:
"Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.
... Let him talk first- remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.
Don't complain if he is late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.
... Remember he is the master of the house and as such he will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him."
No doubt the author of this authoritative missive went on to create great philosophic masterpieces.
I have been back at the gym for a week now and I am still feeling somewhat exhausted. I am currently lifting three days a week and doing cardiovascular work six days per week. Next month I will move up to lifting four days per week. Sadly I am much weaker than I used to be. There is good news, at least I can add some food to my current one meal a day regimen. Although perhaps I should eliminate the one rest day?
In happier news I am headed for Las Vegas on Friday for such debauchery that can be had with my new healthy lifestyle. At least there will be pokering.
Also of note, a new Cajun/Creole place Yats has opened here in Chicago on Randolph Street. Supposedly all of its dishes are only $ 5.50! Apparently it is an outpost of a successful Indianapolis place. Here is an interesting review of the place from Chicago Gluttons. Gumbo!!!
I have been watching quite a bit of the Olympics. After viewing the US Men's Basketball team yesterday morning trounce Greece, I think this is the best US team since the Jordan, Barkley, Bird, and Magic Johnson squad in 1992. I expect them to win the Gold Medal.
Swimmer Michael Phelp's diet was profiled in a recent piece in the Wall Street Journal. He only consumes 11,000 more calories a day than I do (they pegged his intake at about 12,000 calories per day). Despite his massive success I think there is too much coverage of Phelp's at this point. It has gotten to the point where the commentators hang on his every action, "Michael Phelps is now sitting and resting .... Michael Phelp's may eat lunch later ...Phelp's is now going to wash his hands ...'
I watched Dana Torres, aged swimmer extraordinaire, swim in one the the preliminary events this morning. She finished second in the heat at age 41. Nice to see youngster's doing well. The winning swimmer in that heat was sixteen years old.
I am really enjoying some of the offbeat competitions in this year's Olympics. I found myself strangely interested in fencing and badminton. I wonder if there is some place that one could play Badminton here in Chicago?
There have been many complaints about the coverage here in the United States by NBC. Restricting their web coverage and refusing to show events live has left many viewers angry. I mostly find it a little discouraging in that it is very hard to get a handle on the schedule of the events. I often miss events that I want to see and get caught in the loops that NBC has set up where they show highlights of the same events they are focusing on, over and over again (swimming, gymnastics).
The Doctor has finally cleared me to return to the Gym so I wandered down there today to rejoin and commence my new lifting regime. The person who registered me was one of those perky enthusiastic souls who took my money and cheerfully said,
"You know we have a lot of classes for seniors that you should consider!"
I have been watching an excellent television series, Madmen, on AMC. A period piece set in the 1960s in the Advertising agencies of New York City. A scary look at the world of my parents and their 4 cocktail lunches and rigid social code. This is the best show on television by a large margin although it is a bit dystopic.
Apparently there is a pizza joint in Chicago known as Purgatory Pizza. I feel like I too am in purgatory as I really can't eat pizza any more, but you've got to love their name. I wonder if Dante would stop in for a slice?
I finally saw the film Juno on DVD last night. I thought it was well done but oh how I wish that I had kind and understanding parents like the ones the main character in this film had. I can't imagine how my mother would have reacted if I had gotten some girl pregnant while I was in High School. No doubt I would have been homeless shortly thereafter and living on the street.
I am headed for Las Vegas on the 22nd of this month for some epic, yet healthy eating, and some marathon live poker sessions. Viva!
I walked about 30 miles this weekend as part of my new health kick. This was good in that I got to see some neighborhoods that I had not explored much but no one tells you about the soreness of one's feet that this leads to. Brother can you spare a bucket of ice?
I went by the Pharmacy yesterday (a pharmacy which specializes in pet medications) to pick up Julian the Cat's blood pressure medicine. So I told the clerk what I was picking up and she said to me:
"Clerk: Oh there is a note that Julian should speak to the Pharmacist to have her describe the special instructions for this medicine. Is Julian here with you?"
Laoch: Er, no, Julian is at home. You do realize that Julian is a cat?
Clerk: So she isn't here with you? Oh ...."
As that old 1970s song noted, The things we do for love.
I am reading a fine book by Chinese Nobel Laureate, Gao Xingjian, entitled "Soul Mountain." So far it is graceful and a bit existential and mystic.
The tornadoes from the other night passed without damaging my neighborhood but we did have some spectacular lightning.
I am making Dan Dan Noodles today from this excellent recipe (although I am using shrimp instead of pork). Stop by before it is all gone.
Here is a cool, quick Synesthesia test if you think you might have this condition.
I have been listening to a pretty cool podcast from Roz Savage who is attempting to row across the Pacific Ocean. You can check it out here.
word of the day: agrestic - (adj) rustic, uncouth or unpolished.
Here is an amusing video response from Paris Hilton to McCain's recent campaign ad which mocked her and sent her mother (who had previous contributed to the McCain campaign) into a frenzy.
So I was sitting on my couch earlier this evening watching the Cubs game when all of a sudden loud sirens came on outside and the television started playing the Emergency Broadcast System. Unlike normal they did not say this is a test, instead they said this is an actual emergency!. All I could think about, strangely, was this meant we were about to have a Global Thermonuclear War! Obviously I have been watching too many end of the world movies. It turned out to be a tornado warning as there appear to be cells throughout the city. I assume the power will go any minute. If I don't return, you can find me huddled in the basement, awaiting the end ....
Last night I attended the first ever Minor League game at Wrigley Field. All was well until a torrential downpour in the ninth inning sent me scurrying for cover and eventually the game ended up being called for rain. I did not get to have enjoyable ball park hot dogs but I did get to have a pretzel so all was not lost. The quality of play was not terrible and the announced attendance was an astounding 32,000 or so. It really was an amazing turn out for a minor league game. Sadly though, baseball is just not the same without the once standard beer per inning.
I also had a nosh at Ben Pao (new menu!) so my stomach was not neglected.
My militant Feminist friend Bubbles (who incidentally is a performer at a First Amendment establishment) and I were eating sushi together last night, when she mentioned that she had been to a posh party recently wherein sushi was served on naked women's bodies. I remarked that I thought this seemed like a delightful practice that should be incorporated into most modern parties. She felt, quite staunchly, that such a practice was demeaning to women. So what do you think: demeaning or delightful new trend?
I saw the film Brideshead Revisited last night with Bad Betsy and found it to be beautifully filmed but quite slow in its pacing. This is a film about the relentless class structure found in Great Britain before World War II and a striver's attempt to find a place in the Upper Class. Grim and slow but not bad.
I ate at a wonderful Mexican Place on Clark Street in the most Northern part of Chicago on Saturday. Sabor Michoacan is cheap and tasty and is being added to my rotation of go to places in the City. I had a seafood tostada that was so good I found myself dreaming about it last night. I also enjoyed some hand squeezed orange juice with my meal. I had several items and could not finish them all as the portions were substantial.
I have just started Fuchsia Dunlop's memoir, Shark's Fin and Sichuan Pepper: A Sweet-sour Memoir of Eating in China, about her apprenticeship at China's premier Sichuan cooking school. It has been very engaging thus far and has made me want to book a trip to China forthwith. Dunlop has also written a fine book about cooking Sichuan food which I consult often. Wow, I am so hungry now!
My new favorite TV series is on again this evening. The Middleman is amusing and witty and can be found on ABC Family on Monday evenings.
The Peoria minor league affiliate of the Cubs are playing a rare game at Wrigley Field on Tuesday Night which I plan on showing up for and watching others consume enormous amounts of beer at possibly reduced prices. Tickets are cheap (5$-15$) so you should head out there if you are in town. Go Baby Cubs Go!
I knew it was a bad auspice when, while Muffy and I were standing in line waiting to seat ourselves in the theater to see the X-Files film, a guy from the earlier showing says to me as he exits, "Save yourself!'
I am watching the film "When Harry Met Sally," early this fine morning. Great film:
Harry: "There are two kinds of women, high maintenance and low maintenance." Sally: "What kind of woman am I?" Harry:"You are the worst kind, you are high maintenance but think you are low maintenance."
Hahahahahahahaha, this observation applies to a large proportion of the women I have dated over the years!
I am reading an interesting period memoir, Stud Terkel's "Talking To Myself." While this has been wildly uneven, it is worthwhile because it is fascinating to see what Chicago was like in another era.
I have signed up for a Japanese course!
Is there some way that I can avoid the coming X-Files film? Sadly, it seems like every middle aged woman on the planet is anxious to see this film.
Friday found me at the Arlington Park racetrack for some intense gambling. After a remarkably positive session I treated myself to a T shirt and bought my track companion Candi an epic meal. It's actually a nice trip to get to Arlington as the Metra train takes you there from the city and drops you at the Gates. I am unsure why I do not go every day.
Check RaisePhotosProfileFriends
Tools 
Print
