Happy Birthday JZ! And to all the people I have missed over the past few weeks! And Congrats on the book to Allyson! And more kitty`ma to Fred Pete!

I have finally had my junk car towed-- which I have been procrastinating since late April, because I was nervous. Of course it turned out to be easy, free, and not a big deal, although I did almost give myself a heart attak getting the boxes of random stuff out of my car and up three flights of stairs in the sweltering heat.

Happy Birthday, JZ!!!

I'm taking a half-day from work this afternoon (and Friday), so I made sure to get in early (for me) and can now leave before noon. My fitness center changed its summer hours for the pool to Really Sucky For Me (only one evening swim/week that works for my schedule), so I'm going to go for noon swims twice this week and then see if I can get up early and go for morning swims starting next week.

Happy JZ Day!

Good for you, Kathy. I'm so impressed with all you've been doing.

I've actually been doing really poorly for the past few months--I just renewed my membership that I let lapse back at the end of April, and this will be my first time there in almost two months. I've put more than 10 pounds back on in those two months, so I gotta get my increasing ass in gear and start working off the pounds again. My willpower sucks (as my "dinner" of ice cream and cookies demonstrated last night), so trying Weight Watchers is off the table until I can rein in my appetite and get back into workout/diet mode. I'm back on the diet this week (except for last night's debacle), and will live more frugally so I can afford to stay on it for the near future.

Best of luck, Kathy -- your willpower to do this whole thing has been incredible, so don't let a temporary hitch stop you from getting back on the plan. And you've got plenty of cheerleaders any time you want!

Happy Birthday JZ!!!

Happy Birthday, JZ!

Vocabulary question: Can someone explain the writer's use of the word "crapulent" in this article?

Secession is the next radical idea poised to enter mainstream discourse—or at least the realm of the conceivable. You can’t bloat a modest republic into a crapulent empire without sparking one hell of a centrifugal reaction.

The dictionary definition of crapulent is not very enlightening.

Maybe "crapulent" = "full of crap"? It sounds like the writer's not happy about the state of the "modest republic," so I go with that.

Speaking of politics, Six Other Things the Office of the Vice President Actually Is:

1. Because his office is not an entity in the executive branch, but actually a Native American religion, Cheney and his staff are free to smoke peyote at the start of every morning meeting.

2. Because his office is not an entity in the executive branch, but actually a breach in the space/time continuum, Cheney is free to enter at will his own dimension, the realm of Cthulhu and the slime beasts.

3. Because his office is not an entity in the executive branch, but actually a motorcycle gang, Cheney is free to beat Senators with chains and blackjacks.

4. Because his office is not an entity in the executive branch, but technically an executive bathroom, Cheney is free to wipe his ass with whatever documents are handy, memos, executive orders, Constitutions.

5. Because his office is not an entity in the executive branch, but actually a freak show, Cheney is free to bite the heads off chickens. And nosy members of Congress.

6. Because his office is not an entity in the executive branch, but actually an insane asylum, Cheney is free to rain bedlam down on the whole of government.