Rich and skinny

From Jan. 5-10

The other day as I took my death-defying power walk through a neighborhood not so far away from my place I passed a shop that everyone reading this would be sure and patronize. It was called, simply, “Rich and Skinny.” Why beat around the bush? Expensive gowns being worn by thin mannequins were on display. It was all I could do to resist the temptation to rush in and have a fitting. But Fitness First is my motto, and so on I sped. Besides, I was a little sweaty and wasn’t sure I’d get the warm reception I deserve.
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But meanwhile I remain intrigued by this “24” show I told you about. The characters in it are AMAZING! They can go through hundreds (if not thousands) of 24-second periods without sleeping or eating…and they never grow tired nor faint! Their toilet habits are anyone’s guess.

And this one guy, Jack Bauer! WOW! As the story transpires he is obliged, every 24 minutes to perform 24 acts (now you’re starting to understand how clever the title is) from among, but not limited to, the following on a bad person: bludgeoning; eye-gouging; shooting; choking; shooting; knifing; garroting; kneeing; karate chopping; shooting; kicking; blowing up; pistol-whipping; bazookaing; drowning; smothering; disemboweling; pummeling; pitchforking; and on and on. And these folks all deserve what they get!

And these characters! Despite the fact that the fate of America hangs in their hands they still manage to have all sorts of personal crises to attend to! Many of them have been married to someone else in the counter-terrorism unit at one time and many more would like to marry someone in the unit! Plus many of them, at any given moment, lose a parent, spouse, friend, or beloved pet, and yet they fight on!
Don’t worry, I’ll keep you up to date! But right now I have to rush into another episode, where I hope to see Jack cut off a terrorist’s right arm (which perhaps holds a nuclear device) in a sword fight.
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You’re wondering how I spent New Year’s Eve. By pulling a coup, that’s how. I refer to the fact that by adding a couple of vowels to a “Z” word I added a whopping 14 points to my Scrabble score! And this at the stroke of midnight! The occasion was me hosting Art and Mariette plus Hubert for pizza (I still have lots of 2 for 1 coupons from Little Caesar’s), followed by a titanic battle on the board. Of course I won, and am proud of it. Never mind that English is the second language for Dutchie Mariette and Ghanian Hubert. I’m pretty sure I could have won had we played in their languages, and just as easily.
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My player Lamond was given a VIP ticket by friend Rick to attend a massive party on a small nearby island, accessible only by boat. Four boats ferried some 400 paying guests (tickets about $55 each, plus boat fare) out there and a good time was had by all. How could it be otherwise—a DJ from England had been flown in! There were bonfires along the beach and various food and drinks stalls. A mixed crowd of many nationalities. And Rick mixed business with pleasure.

I’ve told you he’s with a production company and he is pursuing his idea of making of a reality show here. The star of the show would be a young Bahraini prince who, although a little unlikely, is in the early stages of becoming a rock and roll star. Honest. So Rick talked to the prince’s agent and so far all’s on track for a Go. And guess who owns the island on which the new year was ushered in? That would be His Rocking Royal Highness! Right now money is being raised for the project. Rick sees the show as having not only strong Arab interest but even an international following. Will you watch it? I will.
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But I got upset the other day. I was lying on my couch watching TV and the light came through a window in such a way as to reveal an unpleasant sight. I noticed that the window itself was covered with grime and dust and the invading sunshine also highlighted a few other unpleasantries, including the fact that everything in sight was host to a layer of dust. Glancing in the corners, I was surprised to see that the remains of sandwiches and other debris on the floor had attracted an unusual amount of cockroaches. And how could the crusts already be green with mold…they’d only lain there a few weeks…or months. At any rate, I resolved that this simply would not do. And so I put my shoulder to the task.

First, I closed the drapes. Then I moved the TV (thankfully it is on rollers) into my bedroom. You see? There’s a solution to every problem if you’re just industrious enough to think of it. I’ve also moved my computer and so now I’m able to lay here and comfortably type. A much cheerier scenario.
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On the hardwoods we had another tough battle, but this time came away the victor. We started the game by fullcourt pressing Nuwaidrat into tons of turnovers and went up twelve. But we persisted in turning the ball over ourselves and were down five at the half, as they made lots of 3-point shots. Second half went back and forth but we prevailed in final minutes, 93-88. Our next opponent is Sitra. Last nite I watched them come from behind to beat Isa Town in double overtime. There’s lots of good shooters in this league and not many easy games. We remain in a 4-way tie for first. After Sitra we play two of the teams with which we’re tied. Pressure just around the bend.
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I just finished watching my Boise State Broncos beat your Texas Christian Horned Frogs in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Arizona. And my Phoenix running mate from a couple of years back, Bruce Wilson, was enthralling in his role as Tostitos King. Upon making the trophy presentation at game’s end I was captivated by his speech, which tied education, football, and Mexican chip dips into one big tidy mouth-watering package. Some people may have thought it was a little long for national TV, at 42 minutes, but not me! You go, Boy!