Poem for Tuesday

Exercising Options
By Judith Viorst

I've been told that the vigorous moving-about of my body
Could discourage all ills from loose flesh to a heart attack.
But there isn't a fitness routine
That strikes me as anything less than obscene, so
I float on my back.

I respect those brave ladies who're burning their flab off with Fonda.
They still wear bikinis. I long ago switched to a sack.
But my horror of thickening thighs
Is surpassed by my horror of exercise, so
I float on my back.

I admire all those stalwarts out jogging in blizzards and heat waves
But if I want torture, I'd just as soon head for the rack.
Let my upper arms droop, I aspire
To no exertion that makes me perspire, so
I float on my back.

And I know that I richly deserve the whole world's condemnation
For the firmness that both my torso and character lack.
Yes, my body's a total disgrace
But there is this big happy smile on my face as
I float on my back.

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This is going to be a quickie because I spent all day celebrating being 40. Or being in denial of being 40. Or pretending to be someone who is considerably older than 40 in porny messages. Anyway, it was a perfectly lovely way to spend the day! came over and took me out for Indian buffet and brought *ahem* movies and art, so after walking around the lake at Rio to see the geese, we spent the afternoon in high-minded pursuits like cinema and appreciating sketches. She also brought me a gorgeous glass fish and peppermint bark and penguins and stuff. But best of all, she and and (who I am told was the evil mastermind) gave me , which I believe is still partially locked, but is full of porny goodness and art and icons (the one used here is by ) and wonderful sentimental stuff that just makes me so happy! *grabs and squishes all of you* Thanks so much to everyone involved, and to everyone who left a note...I probably haven't found them all yet as I was out all evening!

My parents took us all to the restaurant they originally wanted to go to on Friday but we couldn't work the timing out, the Bonefish Grill in Gaithersburg, where younger son and I split twin lobster tails (one of my favorite things and something I very, very rarely have). Then we went back to my parents' house where my mother had made a Nubian chocolate roll, which was my request as this is my favorite dessert though I couldn't even finish half my piece as I was so full from lunch and dinner. They gave me a pair of silver and amber earrings, After the Apple: Women in the Bible - Timeless Stories of Love, Lust, and Longing autographed as the author is a DC native, a big art book on British royalty, and money, while and the kids gave me the new Loreena McKennitt CD, The Jewish Book of Days by Jill Hammer -- the rabbi who created Tel Shemesh -- chocolate and a promise of future redemption for whatever camera lens and filters I want since they didn't know exactly.

I told I wanted naked Snape for my birthday, so he also drew me this:










That, BTW, is work-safe. Here is my not work-safe card from ! I did almost no work today but did throw up a piece about how Matt Damon says he'd play Captain Kirk if he was offered the role and liked the script. Heh. Just need Affleck as Spock now and my slash fantasy can be complete.