Smile, say cheesecake!

The Cheesecake Factory near Southdale in Edina played host Thursday to the June meeting of the "Ladies Who Lunch" southern circuit. Topics included M'liss's trip to Missouri and horseback riding in Wisconsin. Future poker plans and past exploits garnered a substantial portion of the forenoon/afternoon leisurely agenda. An ornate dining room fixture caught Kathleen's eye.

Buy for comfort, or for speed?

We're asking readers to weigh in on an important question today. We need help choosing a new bike.

Here's the question: If you are buying a bicycle to exercise, do you pick one with a single speed and coaster brake or do you go all out for a slim ten-speed with hand brakes and skinny tires?

If the object is a workout, do you want a smooth, efficient bike that makes it easy to climb a hill? Do you ride face down and bent over with your butt in the air? Or will fat tires and a chunky frame be more likely to help you break a sweat? If you want to burn fat, do you add a picnic basket for weight?

We're familiar with the sexy racers and the intrepid mountaineering bikes, but now two categories have emerged with interesting names: the "cruisers" and the "comfort" bikes. Boomer markets anyone?

We need an hour of aerobic exercise with a heart-rate averaging around 110 beats per minute. And of course we want to look good in the neighborhood. Question: Can all that be done, while seated tall on a comfy wide-bottom perch?

These are the big questions of the day. That, and, "Will there be a regime change in Iran, leading to a lessening of tensions in the Middle East?"

Thank you for your help.

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UPDATE

Sister Sosie emails from Sunol, CA, where they have opinions about these alternative transportation things: She writes:

Please don't limit yourselves. Consider:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SK6VTEFmxw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcqeZDJZvkE

and for very best exercise and highest cool factor, the

Trikke:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnk_SvhoUk4

Mom's Greatest Hits

"My Heart Ever Faithful," by J.S. Bach, recorded by Beverly Brown Rolfsrud sometime in the mid-60s (we gotta nail that down -- does anyone have the original LP, Into His Presence With Singing, that has a copyright date on it? The LP was digitized and remarketed sometime in the 90s) has emerged as the hands down YouTube favorite for Bev fans out in cyberspace. Approaching 3,500 views, it has clearly outpaced her "Thanks Be to Thee" rendition, which has garnered 750.

Click here to have another look at this favorite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2SV0cPTmYo

First Fish

Stan's great nephew, Blake Underwood, caught his first fish Saturday in a creek in Des Moines. His catch came at the very close of the Cub Pack's activity. Details on the family blog, left.

Posers

Better living through weight training? We shall see. We took delivery this morning on a Bowflex Power Pro XTL. Stan's former business associate, Mark, has moved on to another exercise regimen, so he was happy to drop by this morning to close a deal on his very fine piece of used fitness equipment. It has no motor, no electricity, no battery, no service contract and no membership is ever needed. The package is complete, provides everything but the willpower. Younger Next Year? We shall see. Better looking? That ship has sailed.

Where's Missy?

Our oldest, Melissa, recently volunteered some of her time to work with the Junior Achievement organization. Here they are at the intersection of General Mills and Best Buy Streets. See if you can find her. (Click to enlarge... you might be able to read the nametag.)

Pedicure, shampoo and a trim

Big day for Birdie. She's sleeping now after her first bath, trim, pedicure and photo shoot. The same Eden Prairie groomer who gave Hoover her usual "lamb cut" promises to give Birdie that same look. We've never liked the traditional poodle cut, too circusy, we think.

Birdie's black with tan patches evoke the Lone Ranger; she's said to have classic "Phantom" markings.

She's four months old and almost eight pounds and today she's accident free. . . so far.

Partieeee!

The gang from the Herald, Stan's old comrades-in-arms, are coming by the house after work tonight for beer, sloppy joes and bs. Kathleen jumped into the spirit early, cutting up this stunning array of nature's snack food -- something we're trying to eat more of these days. (That and a trayful of peanuts and a bowl of M&Ms, of course. We haven't totally lost it, you know.)

Poker preschool

Sorry, grandma, but my Lady beats your ten of dimes. . .

She may not know it yet, but Emily is playing even up with one of the greats. It's a rainy Wednesday and a good time to shuffle up and deal. Sure, they may call this game "War," but it could just as well be Five Card Stud, Oklahoma No Peek, or Texas Hold 'em. Remember, a flush beats a straight and grandma doesn't always win if you play your cards right. (Oops. Don't forget. One-eyed jacks are wild.)