D5W

Why is Terry like Dracula's bed?

They're both a coffin. (Ar ar.)

Ugh. Sorry about that. But yeah, I'm still coughing with regularity. The good news is that I feel pretty good, and have actually been able to exercise a bit.

I expect to be fully functional by the end of the week. But man, it has been a long road back. If I am to perform at a reasonable level during any summer races, I am facing a daunting to-do list for achieving the fitness I'm going to need. The good news is that I can think of nothing I'd rather be doing. I can't wait to get outdoors to run, ride, and swim in the open water! Bring on the Springtime!

Yes, I do recognize that it's only January. But sometimes it actually gets pretty warm in January. Hey, the sun is shining today...and besides -- I have multiple pairs of long underwear.

For today, though, I thought I'd share some of the thoughts I had while sitting at home feeling punky with this respiratory crud. All I felt like doing was watching TV, and the only TV worth watching tended to be the reruns on MeTV. More about that in a second...

But first let me ask you a question. Can you name the significant people who have influenced your life, and turned you into the person you are today? It's an interesting thing to think about.

For me, there are several that come to mind quickly. Doug Sidles and Bill Spahn, of course, who were my primary role models for coaching swimming. Before that, there was Major Astro, who got me interested in science and knowledge. And my parents, who took me on vacation to Colorado in the summers, which convinced me to escape from Kansas at the first available opportunity. Those were all tremendously positive influences that I shall always greatly appreciate.

But my "sick time" last week made it obvious to me how much I was influenced by my college roommate, Mickey. If it weren't for him, I probably would've developed refined tastes and upscale sensibilities. If it weren't for him, I may have achieved sophisticated wit and intellectual prominence. I might have been an influential member of high society.

But no. Instead, I became a guy who watches Green Acres episodes over and over again. Sigh. Because of Mickey, I am now a middle-aged couch potato who is perfectly content to watch 60s and 70s TV shows ad infinitum. (Except for Gilligan's Island -- that show totally sucks.)

You probably knew that already. It's not a secret. And to tell you the truth, I'm actually quite proud of the number of TV show guest stars I can identify from memory. It's too bad there is no demand for a profession guest-star identifier, because I'm pretty sure I could get the job. Instead, though, I am forced to slave away as a proposal editor.



Anyway, while some people ponder the meaning of life, the intricacies of global politics, or the architectural possibilities inherent in the Fibonacci sequence, I tend to think about how TV shows trigger deep and profound thoughts about language, family structure, and religion.

I'll share what I mean tomorrow. Part of the answer is contained in the following graphical quiz. Can you identify the common element that binds these folks? (Hint: one of the photos has a double application of the answer.) Click to embiggen.



In the meantime, I expect to continue to breathe easier as each hour passes by. Perhaps tomorrow, I'll be able to function without phlegm.

I hope you are feeling fantastic as you solve this simple puzzle. Enjoy yourself, and have a great day!