Uh.oh.

Aloe vera is a plant that would be at home on a Star Trek M-Class planet.    It’s also good therapy for the occasional skin burn in the kitchen.  I was probably thinking about these two qualities (subconsciously) when I wrote the poem below.  Warning: This poem might be funny.  What do you think?

Aloe and Lanolin

How did these two meet?

The power couple of skincare heaven

Mr. Aloe V. Era and Ms. Lan O. Lin

had an immediate chemical reaction

in the chem lab at Harvard University.

That seems like ages ago for all of us

who know them well and use them

in our intimate spaces and private places.

Before a mirror, we apply lavishly.

Mixed intently for an epidermis glow

in ointments or soap bars.

Aloe and Lanolin are one.

They got hitched in Las Vegas

Behind Elvis and Priscilla.

Aloe loves Lanolin to this very day

and vice versa, too.

Though never listed that way (Lanolin and Aloe)

on the outside of any sundry package or container.

Aloe and Lanolin,

The power couple of skincare heaven.

I noticed a while back that I-tunes now has a section called I-Tunes U.  You can actually listen to lectures from schools like: UC Berkeley, Michigan Tech, Stanford, and Duke.  Isn’t that amazing?  Talk about reaching out and educating the masses.  Perhaps it’s a good alternative to adult-continuing education at community colleges.  Have any of you sampled their offerings?  Let me know what they are like.  No one will ever have an excuse for being a dunce with I-Tunes University.  Do you think one can list such courses on their resume or CV?  I would forget the Ivies with the magic fiber optics and full-color mini-screens.  The I-pod isn’t just for Gorillaz fans and Bono groupies.  I wonder if I-tunes U will have any future Greek-life offerings for their University.  What about I-Ikea for your Ipod-dorm space?  I can see it now.

This is the Simpsons Movie release weekend.  FINALLY.  They should have made one before a Beavis and Butthead movie.  The Simpsons movie is about ten years late.  This will be a definite hit and the world has needed it.  In two years, there will be a Simpsons Holiday Movie: Bart saves Christmas.     

I heard back from my friend about Tomkat.  She’s laughing.  Any sane person knows that Tom just needs the publicity.  Katie’s obviously IN LOVE with him.   

Iraq is celebrating their big world soccer win.  They’re saying that this is the happiest the country has been in years.  The Iraqi team is now a finalist in the Asia Cup.  Hmmmmph. 

I e-mailed one of my best friends to express my opinion on Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes being in the public spotlight.  Something is wrong.  I am wondering how much is Katie Holmes being paid to keep up this charade.  Honestly, it’s like The Emperor’s New Clothes.   Everyone just gawks at them in wonder or disgust.  Tom is like, “She’s my prize.  We’re very happy.”  Katie just smiles and giggles with no words in reply.  He has the attitude of some one who is twenty years younger because she is twenty years younger.  He’s like, “I still got it.  I still matter in the world.”  Let me go barf.

I haven’t gotten my friend’s e-mail reply.  Maybe, she’s still reeling.    

Can you believe that it’s Christmas in July?  Did you get someone anything?  Did you get yourself anything?  Before we know it, the calendar will be in the “BER” months of 2007.  I think it’s freaky because Princess Diana died one decade ago in that car crash.  I was preparing for my first year of college.  Damn!  It seems just like yesterday.   I actually have what they call “life experience” under my belt.  I remember hard disk and external disk drives.  Do any of you remember your 21^st birthday?  I remember people flipping out over what Y2K might bring—a worldwide brownout in major cities, no phone service, or even WWIII by mistake.  Scary. 

I’m going to go make popcorn and watch a DVD.  Oh my God, I can remember the movie Scent of a Woman and loving it.  I must have watched it over ten times during high school.  It taught me to believe in myself despite all the obstacles, hardships, and traumas of the high school social scene.  I’m in tears as I wri…I’m just kidding folks.  Gotcha!  Although, Scent of a Woman is an inspirational movie on several levels.    

This is FUNNY.  It’s been on Youtube for awhile.  If you don’t crack up, I don’t like you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W91sqAs-_-g

Artscape was…well…Artscape.  My friend and I did enjoy the D.J. music stage area for about an hour.  We sadly realized that a lot of the artwork was overpriced as we walked by the various stands.  I think it’s because the festival does give local-amateur artists a means of having their work viewed by public eyes.  I left in the early evening after several hours of hangin’ out with friends.  I did enjoy some Caribbean food for dinner, which I don’t get to eat very often.  The pina coladas went up in price.  My closest friend (in attendence) wasn’t too happy about that change.  Oh well. 

What did I learn and want? 

1) I wanted some of the stuff to be priced down by fifty bucks.    

2) I learned from my friend that her experience trying to find a suitable match on     Yahoo Personals has led to a bunch of losers. 

    I did suggest that not looking online is probably a better option.     

 Are people all over the world celebrating?  I’ve watched one or two of the movies and haven’t read a single book in the series.  It’s probably because I was wrapped up in studying King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table when the first book was published.  And as a fan of Tolkien’s Trilogy, I have yet to really feel depth in the Potter storylines.  Rowling’s books are basically about a teenage boy with magical powers.  That’s why the books are great for kids and adults who need a safe bet.  What are your feelings?                                                                                                     

I’m meeting up with a friend of mine to go to a festival called Artscape, which runs through the weekend in Baltimore.  She’s big on the pina coladas in the food area.  We watched an African-heritage dance at last year’s event.  It’s better than sitting at home watching Animal Planet.  Wouldn’t you agree?     

I’ve made two additions to my summer reading list:

1) Atul Gawande’s Better (A Surgeon’s Notes on Performance)

2) Seth Lerer’s Inventing English (A Portable History of the Language)

Don’t cringe.  I think that these are both worthwhile books to read.  Summer moves on.   

I arrived last night in Baltimore.  Left NYC at 5:30 p.m. and got to Maryland by 9:00p.m.  It gave me time to get some much needed rest after speeding up in N.Y.  It was fun and N.Y. has almost everything.  I’ve made some adjustments to my summer reading list, which I will share with you in a future posting.  Columbia U has one of the best bookstores.  I picked up a few new books to read.  I have another poem to share with you:

            The Fifth Date (Inspired by a NYC night on the town.)

We can get caught in the rain

or sneak out of the movie theater,

careful not to disturb anyone else.

I’ll wear my Sean Jean sport coat.

You can wear that hot number

that you wore to Tony’s wedding.

I promise to laugh at your jokes.

Thoughtful conversations will revolve around nothing in particular.

Our only drinks tonight will be martinees.

You can smile even though I’m boring.

It won’t hurt my pride

and we’ll be happy.

I promise.