Friday, March 23, 2007

Writer writing

It's been a busy week Isthmus-wise for yours truly. So check out my cover story about Madison's gay nightlife options, my regular food news column and my museum dispatch about an exhibit of ancient Roman art. Prego!

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Tennessee legislature to Tennessean Justin Timberlake: Drop Dead

Ah, another reason I'm proud to be from Tennessee. This isn't up there with the great scandals that periodically make Tennessee a national laughingstock (Scopes monkey trial, etc.), but it's a good one.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

So smooth

I try not to overtheorize my shaving. For years I have used simple tools and unguents to scrape the bristles from my face, products available at any drugstore. The key tool was Gillette's Atra razor blades, which never seemed quite perfect to me, but adequate. I was in denial.

For after nearly every shave, my face was a ghastly mess. I thought the carnage was normal, something every man has to put up with. I tried to make sure I had plenty of Band-Aids on hand.

But recently a new razor came into my possession, one that takes cartridges of the Gillette Mach 3 type.

I must say: They are genius.

I shave now with nary a nick or cut. I always thought the elaborate new devices the razor-blade manufacturers periodically come up with were simply so much hype, but the Mach 3 is real. I no longer dread shaving.

Gillette did not pay for this blog entry.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Don't bogart that dextromethorphan

I came down with a nasty bug on Friday, and I have been ingesting every appropriate over-the-counter medication I can find in the house. I've taken Advil for the fever and aches, Robitussin for the cough, Flonase and Sudafed for the congestion. I think all of it is helping.

By way of comparison, my loving boyfriend Ereck refuses to take much of anything when he's sick. He argues that symptoms -- fever, for example, and a phlegmy cough -- happen for reasons, and it's best to let these bodily processes work themselves out.

I should mention that I am the child of a doctor, which could be the reason I so happily turn to the meds. What about you? When you're sick with a bug, do you dope yourself up, or let nature run its course?