Marco...

... Polo! Yes, I am still alive. And yes, I am still (slowly but surely) blogging. Don't give up on me quite yet folks. Sometimes life just gets in the way. Which, speaking of life, in the crazy hecticness of the last week-and-a-half I have acquired a few lessons.

Let's review, week-at-a-glance style:

- When your boxer pup stops in the parking garage to leave a present, pick it up immediately. When another dog later decides to leave one in the same spot and the owner doesn't pick it up, throw a fit. Unfortunately, no one will care about your fit and you will still end up picking it up yourself. Scenarios such as this one are obviously only possible on a Monday.

- Love really does come along at the oddest times in the most bizarre circumstances. Congratulations to my newly-engaged friends Kerri and Kevin! Who would have thought a romance could bloom out of a funeral (seriously). Way to be awesome.

- Whenever you feel like you are in good shape, go to the Body Pump class at Gold's for a quick reality check. Then be humbled when 45 minutes leaves you practically immobile for the next three days.

- Voting for contestants on reality shows is surprisingly fun. Except when it's The Biggest Loser and you later realize that text voting is not free. Daris, if you are reading this, I want you to know you are totally worth my weekly lunch allowance. I didn't need to eat this week anyway.

- Dancing with the Stars does not seem to care about my votes.

- Lots of work does not always equal lots of money. However, it does equal a lot more phone calls to return, a lot less sleep, and a lot more 'tude. Sincere apologies to anyone I have come in contact with over the last ten days.

- Shorts + Motorcycle + Blazing Hot Day = Burnt Bum & Bad Tan Lines. Not recommended.

- Girl's Nights are ridiculously fun. (But not so much for surrounding parties.) Hanging out with an amazing group of loud, fun, laughing women is totally worth a few cross looks.

- When challenging yourself to a 50-Book-Challenge in 2010, perhaps the 2009 result should be taken into account. Especially when the goal was 50 and you read 7. I can't even see the bar anymore because it is set so high.

- Lazy Sunday is sometimes necessary to recover from all of the above.