Bad Lauren...

... has not updated in a while. I fixed the link to the Virtual Book Club over on the right of this page. You can also take a peek at the site (which is now updated, thank you very much) by clicking here. Our next book is "Single Wife" by Nina Soloman. A review is posted on the Virtual Book Club blog.

My Cincinnati 101 class has wrapped up. This week we took a visit to the Skirball Museum at the Hebrew Union College, which is the epicenter of reform Judaism in the United States. Well, it started in Cincinnati, at least. There are also Hebrew Union Colleges in NYC and L.A.

In the rare book room at the college (which smelled deliciously of old books, a smell that any book lover relishes) they have some of the oldest texts ever created. Books that are hundreds, even a thousand years old. They've got one of the oldest Bible's ever created. They've got Chinese texts that date back to teh 1660s. It's amazing.

Although I was hoping to meet a few people through this experience, I was not successful. Actually, I did meet one girl but she didn't show up for either of the last two classes, so she was a bust. It was an interesting class, however, and I learned a lot about Cincinnati. I enjoyed playing tourist in my new city and will probably do so on my own - or at the very least, sign up for Cincinnati 102 if they develop a class for that. Nerdine has started her own version of this class with some friends. I seriously would encourage everyone to do it: It's fun, it gets you out of the house, it's a good learning experience AND you never know what little treasures might turn up.

Life is a Cirque

I went to a preview performance of Cirque du Soleil's "Quidam" show in Cincinnati last night (free tickets - perk of the job!) and let me just say: It. Was. A.maz.ing.

I do not know much about the story line, frankly, because I didn't bother researching it too much before going to the performance. I have my own theories about the basic plot, but honestly, the plot comes second to the action.

As with any circus, Cirque du Soleil is a flurry of activity. A spotlight highlights the key performer in every scene, but there is always some other performer located on another part of the stage. For example, in a scene where a woman was hanging from the ceiling on a rope, a dancer is in the background doing a series of dizzying pirouettes and another dancer is slinking about the stage like an elephant.

The show is by turns touching, funny and death-defying. The positions that the performers move their bodies into, the strength that it must take to control their bodies. And the sheer flexibility! Oh my gosh! A.maz.ing.

Regarding the Virtual Book Club: Dawn has suggested a new selection since I've been lazy. And the winner is... Single Wife by Nina Solomon. I'll post something on the VBC site later today - I added a link in my menu for all of you who have decided to join us in our little foray into virtual social networking.

Step off, kid!!!!

My mom came down today for a little visit. We went to lunch and then to the Cincinnati History Museum. As we were walking from the ticket booth to the museum entrance, we we had to walk through a crowd of people.

There was a little boy in the crowd - three, maybe three and a half years old. As I walked toward him, I saw him lock eyes with me. He took a step, firmed up his stance... then took a swing at me with a "pfffou" noise escaping his all-too-innocent looking mouth.

I. Kid. You. Not.

I was accosted by a three year old.

Okay, well not quite accosted. At some point when he was winding up, it crossed my mind exactly what this kid was about to do, so I was able to step out of the way. And then I said, "Hey! Let's not do that!" in my most grown-up and authoritative voice. I believe I even shook a finger at him. (The kid ignored me.)

Now, I ask you: Where were the parents in all this? Because I certainly didn't see any apologetic mothers or fathers rush over as their kid tried to clock me. Nor did I see any concerned mothers or fathers even glance in my direction as I chastised him and went on my way.

As bizarre as it was, my mom and I had quite a laugh over the fact that a three-year-old tried to beat me up. But I'm telling you one thing: That kid better watch out. The next time he takes a swing at me, I'm going to grab his fist and give him a little shake. That'll show him to mess with me.

Personal Growth

I like to think that I'm someone that I would like if I were meeting myself for the first time.

My criteria for this estimation is simply that I like people who are interesting and who do interesting thigs that not everyone else does.

For me, one of those experiences began today. Today was the first in a series of four classes that I'm taking about... Cincinnati. It's through this program called "Communiversity" - kind of a community continuing education thing sponsored by the University of Cincinnati.

I'm the youngest person in the class, at least based on what I saw today. There were a couple of younger people who walked in a little late. I'm going to scope them out at the next class. The closest in age after them is 40.

But it's something that I'm doing not only to say that I've done it, but because it interests me, gives me something to do on Monday nights and keeps my mind sharp the way "Sex and the City" reruns do not.

Basically, the three remaining classes will meet in a different location and explore a different part of the city of Cincinnati's culture. Our next class meets at the Cincinnati Museum Center for a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility (which houses four museums and a train station) including the train station's control room and the art deco offices and President's boardroom. Pretty cool. You can't get a ticket for that tour.

Our next class will take place at the Hofbrauhaus, one of four officially sanctioned Hofbrauhaus' in the world. We get to eat, drink beer and talk about dining and nightlife in Cincinnati. Incidentally, Cincinnati was recently rated #1 in America for nightlife by Forbes... cool, huh?

Our final class meets at the Skirball Museum at Hebrew Union College. They apparently have this rare book collection that the public almost NEVER gets to see. This includes books where the text is written on wooden or leather pages. With my love of reading and my interest in Jewish mysticism, this is my most anticipated class.

So I'm stretching myself, my boundaries and my comfort zone. It will be worth it just to have the experience.

And it will help make me (or keep me) as a person that I'd like if I were meeting myself for the first time.