A weird side effect of working for a sporting goods company is that the average health level of my colleagues seems much higher.

Our pop machine is stocked with Gatorade and bottled water. There are various intramural sports plaques on the walls. The bathrooms all have lockers and shower facilities. The cafeteria's specials usually involve a 'wrap' or 'salad' in some manner.

But the weight room is always empty.

In fact, most these people seem disgustingly healthy. I get the impression that these people actually take part in physical activity after work. After working mostly in computer rooms for the last few years, I'm more used to pasty-skinned cave dwellers than healthy athletes. Even the programmers here look like they pump iron.

It's not all bad. There are a few token out-of-shape people around here. Just enough to be a 'broad employee spectrum' I suspect.

Geez, you think they hired by as part of their Milquetoast quota?

We had a rough sleep last night.

Besides the insomnia that has been plaguing the both of us the past few weeks, we were haunted by weird noises.

Around 11 or 12, we heard the sound of one of our interior doors closing. There are only three interior doors, and all of them were wide open when we went to look. Guessing that one of the cats banged into one, we went back to bed.

Then around 4:30 we were woken by these incredibly loud popping noises coming from the street. It was like someone was firing off a .50 caliber cork gun. Backfires maybe? Firecrackers? There was no one on the street at all.

(Lisa thinks she saw green flashes of light at the same time, but I'm discounting alien death rays. For now.)

First snow of the season today. A few inches last night, followed by scattered flurries this morning. Had to haul out the scarves and gloves again. Sigh.

You know, one of these days I have to buy a winter coat that fits me. Might be a tad warmer.

One Year ago: Halloween's coming - where I blather on about the my second favorite holiday.

Mom Rating: 3 out of 5. A bit of this. A bit of that. Mom probably thinks I need to work out more.

Dangerous Mind

This Is Where We Used To Live

Take me home, big fella