Saturday Ramblings

Happy Saturday! I just finished a workout at the gym and the adrenalin is flowing :) What a good feeling. I hope I have motivated at least one person to get moving!

Actually, it's been at the gym where I've realized time and time again how much of an American I am. For instance, I spend half my time looking in earnest for some sign of a water fountain; at times I fear I look like a horse in search of a brook or a panting dog longing for her water bowl. Alas, there are no such things as public water fountains in this country or I'd say in much of Europe. It's really an American luxury.

What more? ... Well, there's the music on the radio, something I like to call (excuse me my European friends) Euro-pop trash (i.e., boy bands, girl bands, and at times lower end rap). But, I did hear Robbie Williams, which I'm learning to like. I shouldn't complain all that much, I got to hear some of the Cranberry's today as well as Michael Jackson and yes, the Spice Girls :) Both Michael Jackson and the Spice Girls took me back in time. Isn't that a wonderful thing about music? Thinking about poor ole Michael, I have to wonder what really happened there. I guess a good deal of the blame is American and World-pop celebrity status at the age of 5. By the way, Michael Jackson was and pretty much still is HUGE in Eastern Europe. In fact, in the very spot a humungo statue of Stalin stood over the city of Prague, a statue of Jacko was raised prior to one of his concerts. His fans and much of the city loved it so much it stayed for a quite some time (this is what I've been told), but the city officials finally decided (just as the Rocky statue in Philly was moved) it was a bit kitschy and removed it. What currently stands is a giant metronome keeping the city in step. Back to Michael, it's really too bad that his music has trended on a downwards decline of late. They played "Black or White", which is really an outstanding song, especially the video that was released alongside it. Remember the awe you experienced when watching the changing faces?

And then, there's the Spice Girls. Somehow, today listening to their music I was transported back in time to what I'd call a time of ignorant bliss, when the world seemed a whole less complicated and dangerous. I guess as G.I. Joe always reminded us at the end of another episode knowledge is indeed power, but the weight of the world seems to grow heavier in light of events in the Middle East and the growing sense of threat and fear. Anyway, these are some of the thoughts lingering in my head this afternoon. I'll just finish by saying that I'm glad I don't submit to those fears, my faith sustains me, but I have to say there are definitely days when my walk seems a bit weighted down and not nearly as light as the days before Posh married Man U's David Beckham. Well, at least Beckham has hair now. :)

And that my friends, is the Voice of Christine signing off.

PS: Mark, brother, I know you'll be disappointed, but I missed seeing Franz Ferdinand and Pet Shop Boys last night. Instead, I spent the evening with some Czech friends and a couple of Hungarians in from Budapest. Ah, I got my butt kicked in foosball (table soccer). It was a lot of fun though.