Mrs. Vampi Twine-DeSantis-McMillan-McMillan (Honorary), You've Got Mail

Dearest Vampi,

I didn't read your e-mail to me until late in the night, but I took action immediately and you now have an email with some good news from me waiting to be read. Hopefully the current problem can now be considered to be handled. 

With love always,
Bock

P.S. If you still don't have Internet connection I am hoping that one of our mutual friends in SecondLife has your phone number and will  call you to tell you the good news.

Jason Again

(via +Joe Jervis @ J.M.G.)

Out and proud basketball player Jason Collins was interviewed on Good Morning America by ABC's George Stephanopoulos. I just had to have it on my blog even it is plastered all over the metaverse.

We Welcome Spring - Desperately

Today is the last day of April, a.k.a. Walpurgis Night. On this day we in Sweden welcome spring - whether it has arrived or not. Tomorrow it is spring, whatever the temperature may be outdoors!

Update: The Danish Meteorological Institute (which is usually more correct on my local weather than the Swedish one) revealed today that it has been the coldest April in 25 years.

This evening many of us will light bonfires to chase away the cold. We will also utter incantations and do whatever else may be needed to exorcise and expel all and any remnants of winter. All our winter clothes go to storage and the spring clothes are dragged out It's all an old heathen tradition of course which has been christianized along the way for it to get the blessing of religion.

Spring is unusually late this year. In the far south of Sweden, where I live, we can usually expect spring at least in the beginning of April, but not so this year. Everything seems to be delayed by four to six weeks.

Luckily I have SecondLife, so whatever the temperature may be outdoors in my first life I am going to start wearing my shorts in-world. The populace have been deprived the joy of seeing my wonderful bare legs for too long already.

Out & Proud in Sports

Team sports is one of the the last remaining bastions of homophobia, but the walls of silence and oppression surrounding major league sports are finally starting to crumble.

First out and a true American hero is basketball player Jason Collins, still actively playing in the NBA.

I found this via Joe.My.God. and the excerpts below is from his blog. Read the full article in Sports Illustrated:

"I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay".

"I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, "I'm different." If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand."

"My journey of self-discovery and self-acknowledgement began in my hometown of Los Angeles and has taken me through two state high school championships, the NCAA Final Four and the Elite Eight, and nine playoffs in 12 NBA seasons."

"I've played for six pro teams and have appeared in two NBA Finals. Ever heard of a parlor game called Three Degrees of Jason Collins? If you're in the league, and I haven't been your teammate, I surely have been one of your teammates' teammates. Or one of your teammates' teammates' teammates."

"Now I'm a free agent, literally and figuratively. I've reached that enviable state in life in which I can do pretty much what I want. And what I want is to continue to play basketball. I still love the game, and I still have something to offer. My coaches and teammates recognize that. At the same time, I want to be genuine and authentic and truthful."

A few tweets (Do I need to get a Twitter account I, wonder? Nah, I would never be able to handle the word count limitations.)

I'm Not Gay!

Got your attention, huh? Well, it's only the name of the song though, not another confession...

Energy!

Initiating Changes

We have been laying plans for the commencement of the changes to come in my first life.

The steps we agreed upon to improve my overall physical condition are
- improving dietary intake and eating habits (regular meals, no junk food and no snacks),
- improving my fitness through exercise,
- improving my sleeping habits,
- reducing my cigarette consumption or quitting smoking,
- reducing my weight and
- reducing my absenteeism.

The exact goals to be achieved during the three month period from June through August of 2013 are to be agreed upon by me, a personal trainer and a dietician. The hope is that this kick-start will get me on the right track for keeping it up on my own afterwards.

It will all start already on Tuesday with a complete health examination and an expanded health and lifestyle survey, including a fitness test. If I should wish so along the way I can also receive some counseling or other psychological or motivational support.

In the spirit of "Mens sana in corpore sano" it is also hoped that the physical changes will improve my psychological and emotional condition.

Sounds like quite a plan, huh?