McKayla is Not Impressed....

....with some random chick who is dressing as her for Halloween.

Another Expression I Hate....

All this talk about love...what's with the saying 'head over heels in love'? Isn't our head already over our heels? At least mine is if you look at me. I do know I'm far from the first person to draw attention to this fact. Anyhow. Is it that one 'falls' head over heels - like tumbles forward, gymnastics style? But still, I don't know that the head is going over the heels - maybe more like going under the heels. I guess I get it, but I don't like the expression.

Anyone out there like this expression, or know the origin?

Goals

Ok, I know I have raised several questions in the past about making new year's resolutions - however, one resolution I usually make it to read a certain number of books in the coming year (and I encourage others to make this goal as well - the number of books depends on the individual).  I do believe last January, a study came out that said one in four Americans did not read a single book the previous year.  

This past year, my goal was twelve books - I happened to luckily exceed it by one book.  Obviously, I should aim a little higher this coming year, but I don't want to overdo it.  However, I do want to challenge myself.   Hmm.    

(This reminds me that I am supposed to review my books from this past year - still working on that one.  Maybe a better resolution for me would be keeping my blog promises.)

What would be a good new goal?  Fifteen seems too small (I almost did that this year); eighteen a little too large.  Seventeen is too odd of a number - I don't like it.  Maybe I'll go for magic sweet 16.  

However, I am NOT at a shortage of reading material - I got seven new books and a Borders giftcard for Christmas.  That, and I have a large quantity on hand from the beloved Sun-Times booksale.   I have a ton of books that I am excited about reading, which is always good.   In fact, I started reading one of my new books (see above).  

My only problem is I'm almost a third of the way through it and I fear I may finish it before 2009, which cannot happen.   This book needs to be counted against 2009, NOT 2008.  I CANNOT have a budget surplus - that will only penalize me for the coming year.  

Coach?

So I have come across, on several occasions, something pertaining to the occupation of 'life coach'.  

Needless to say, I am VERY cynical to this profession on the whole and those who think they are qualified to assume such a role.   

What exactly is a life coach?  What do they do?  More importantly, what makes one qualified to be a life coach?   How is it determined that, hey, you right there - you're more successful in life than 90% of the buffoons out there - you're qualified to tell others what they should be doing with their lives!!  Is it a certain amount of 'life experience' that makes one qualified to be a life coach?  I see 20 and 30-somethings claiming to be life coaches.   Is there any training to become a life coach?  I personally would think the training would be life itself - but we all have that experience of having lived life - what makes some of us grossly unqualified for the profession?   Is being a life coach solely a self-proclaimed accolade, or is there a formal certification process?  Are there a good amount of people out there going to 'life coaches'?  (Actually, I have no trouble believing this - those who feel desperately lost and searching will turn to anything that might be able to solve their problems, hence the success of cults, Rhonda Byrne's "The Secret", etc.)

I do believe several of those behind "The Secret" are self-proclaimed life coaches.  This doesn't add on any cynicism for me toward this subject matter; I already had plenty.

It's not the idea of a life coach that troubles me - it's the idea that some of my peers might be qualified to assume this role in my, or someone's, life.  I dare a life coach to offer up some advice to me.

(Editor's sidenote:  To find a picture for this blog, I googled 'Coach', but that only yielded handbags.  I then googled 'athlete coach' and immediately came upon the picture of Bela Karolyi and Kerri Strug.  Those who know me appreciate that I couldn't resist.)

Chicago 2016?

I LOVE the Olympics.  And I LOVE Chicago.

However, these two are NOT peanut butter and chocolate.  Much more like sushi and waffles.  Or riesling and Henry.  Or dance moves and my wine glass collection.  Two things I love that should NEVER be mixed.

Am I ALONE in saying I do NOT want the 2016 games in Chicago?!!?!  It sure seems like it!!  

I could understand people from other areas of the country cheering on the Chicago games, but my fellow Chicagoans?!!  Hello!!!  

For one, our city is crowded enough on a regular basis.  We have enough sporting festivities going on, thankyouverymuch.  I do not need any more challenges in finding a parking spot.  Do my fellow Chicagoans realize just how much of an additional crowd these events are going to attract?  This is an international event!! 

That, and maybe this is also just me, but I have a New Yorker's attitude toward tourists.  As I'm going about my daily life trying to cross the street on my way to work, I do not need to go out of my way to walk around someone trying to take a picture - or worse yet, asking for my help in taking said picture (and then asking for a redo because of someone's eyes being closed, etc.) .  Additionally, I do not need said tourists scoffing at me because I walked through their pictures (because they seem to think the city stops to acknowledge their family's vacation).

Also, think about it - the preparation (construction, etc.) that would have to be put into the events would cause many inconveniences to our daily commute and what have you.  And DON'T get me started on the tax dollars - we've had enough useless spending around these joints (see also those Rod Blagojevich signs on the expressway over the open road tolling lane).

Let's all get past the 'omg, wouldn't it be so cool to have the Olympics in Chicago?!!' perspective and let's take a look at the real potential consequences. 

I am not the hostess with the mostess, and neither is my city.  And I would like to keep it that way.  Thank you.

(Editor's note:  Do you think Daley possibly reads my blog?)

On A Gymnastics Roll....

When I look at these pictures of Shannon Miller  (some from her teens, some current) and when I think about the fact that she is now a spokeswoman for allergy medication  - I can't help but think one thing:  deviated septum, right?

Did You See?

It was incredible, wasn't it?