It's funny what makes people laugh and what doesn't.

And it's different for each person.

Suggesting that you can avoid attending your father-in-law's races, for instance, would strike most people as selfish or petty or thoughtless or unsupportive.

But given just the right set of circumstances, it becomes hilarious to that one person.

Humor is such a personal thing. At least it is for me.

Sure, there are those talented individuals who can make an entire room laugh. I'm not one of those people.

But I do have a gift for seeing the lighter side of most situations, and am usually not shy about expressing it.

More often than not, I come off as a smartass. That's really not my intention. I rarely am trying to be mean, just funny.

But to those rare few who get me, who share my sense of humor, it's a wonderful thing.

Back In The Saddle

Well, as it turns out, I couldn't stay away from Facebook.

To recap: in an effort to scale down and unplug a couple of months ago, I suspended my Facebook and Twitter accounts, and started a new, much-scaled back Twitter feed.

But once the initial pride of being able to say "I'm not on Facebook (anymore)!" wore off, I began to feel...disconnected.

Things were going on, and I didn't know about them.

But even more basic than that: I missed the attention.

Unless you live with a spouse who doesn't think you're the least bit funny and three kids who think your picture should be in the dictionary to illustrate the word "lame" and three animals who only humor and tolerate you because you feed them, you can't begin to know the sheer agony I felt at not having a creative (okay, "creative") outlet for my special brand of humor (okay, "humor").

So, I'm back.

And man, does it feel good.

On Walden Pond

The third time is the charm in reading, as it seems to be in so many other aspects of life.

I've just begun my third trip through Thoreau's Walden, and this time, only ten pages in, it already feels like a long-lost friend I'm rediscovering.

The last time I read it was far too many years ago to count, and like the first time, was required reading.

This time is different. I've chosen to read it for a few of reasons:

1. It seems a natural extentsion of where my current interests lie, as I've also reconnected with Frost and Dickinson and early works of English poetry.

2. The longer I stay in Oklahoma, the more I long for someplace else.

3. It was free in the Kindle store.

And so I've plunged head-long into it again, and find myself discovering meaning where there was none (or very little) before.

Perhaps Walden, and books of its ilk, are best read when one has acquired the age and experience to appreciate it?

As a junior in a semi-rural high school who lived on ten acres of remote farmland, I was unimpressed.

But now, having spent the better part of nearly twenty years living in the rural-urban wasteland of Tulsa, Oklahoma, I feel myself longing for something more, something different...if I had a soul, it would be crying out for relief from the daily frustrations of the life I've created for myself here.

And how attractive the idea of packing up and moving away from it all! Of course, Thoreau's "roughing it" was hardly that - two miles from town, close enough to hear the train whistle, et. al. - but it's the very idea of stripping away the pretenses of civilization and living just for the sake of living that I find most attractive about it.

So I look forward to reconnecting with Thoreau's special brand of Transcendalism, looking the other way during his smug musings on the shortcomings of others, and letting his words surround me, searching for new meanings to words written over 150 years ago.

I'll Handle The 'Pretentious' Around Here

If I were to one day be named as a Playboy centerfold (not entirely out of the question, I can assure you), I can tell you my one big "turn off" would be pretentious Twitter users.

For one thing, I've already got that pretty well covered: www.twitter.com/sebenway 

More importantly, though, it's mentally taxing to put up with that shit. Just be yourself. Of course, if "yourself" is a pretentious jerk, then my apologies. Carry on.

My other big Twitter "turn off" is the mystery user. There's really no good reason to hide your identity on Twitter IF you're using it for personal communication.

I get that parody accounts and corporate sites need to maintain a certain level of anonymity. For example, @TacoBellTruck wouldn't be nearly as amusing to me if I knew who it was behind the tweets.

But if you're just some guy (or gal) tweeting for fun, why the mystery? Your parent(s) gave you a name for a reason. Until I learn differently, I'm going to assume you're either 1) not who you pretend to be, and ignore you, or 2) in WITSEC, in which case GET THE HELL OFF SOCIAL MEDIA, ARE YOU STUPID?!?!

By the way, in case you're curious - my biggest "turn on" would be people who tell me how funny I am. Or smart. Or good looking. 

I don't really care which - just pick one and sell it.

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To violently switch gears, I've rediscovered Robert Frost, thanks to Louis Untermeyer's commentary "Robert Frost's Poems" - special thanks to the one who pointed me back in that direction. Love you, too!

In Lieu Of Anything Meaningful

Random thoughts in lieu of an actual post (a skill I've learned from @EJComeau - not that I'm worried about naming names, she never reads my blog anyway):

-My mid-week fitness report, were I to give one, would look pretty said. The hour of hot yoga Bonnie had me do with her on Sunday is still messing me up. I followed it up with a two mile run later that day and 20 minutes on a treadmill yesterday - my thighs constantly ache, and I dread having to get up and walk anywhere. It'll get easier, I keep telling myself...

-My pet peeves are legion, but the ones that have stuck in my craw lately involve Twitter. I understand the need for some people to maintain a certain level of anonymity, but at least use a first name, even if it's a fake one. And if you insist on using some esoteric name like "Cinderella's Lost Slipper," don't be surprised if I don't engage with you. [If you're reading this, JJ, I'm NOT talking about you :) ]

-I have another Twitter-derived pet peeve, but it's so petty as to barely manage a mention. I can live with this one, and do one a daily basis.

-Speaking of social media, and electronic media in general, stop assuming that I know you've read my message. Some form of acknowledgement is greatly appreciated. My lovely wife is THE WORST at this, bar none. An "ok" or simple smiley or some other quick keystroke is all it takes, and I don't think it's asking too much.

-The Blacklist on NBC is a really good show. I'm no James Spader fan - I've hated him in everything I've seen him in. However, he totally makes this show. Sure, Megan Boone is nice to look at, but Spader is what makes this show worth watching.

-I feel like I should end this with something uplifting, but I'm sore so I'm not gonna. "Have a great week" is about all I can muster at this point.

-If you've made it this far, thanks for reading all of the preceding nonsense. I appreciate you - yes, YOU - most of all.

Hot Yoga

So, we are off and running.

Today Bonnie, Brooklyn and I decided to get our feet wet at the gym, so we took the hot yoga class at the Midtown Sky gym.

An hour of yoga in a 90 degree room.

I was not prepared.

The great thing about yoga is that, even in a large class - this one had about 40 women, five or six guys, and a fourteen year old kid - it's a personal endeavor. Your practice is your practice.

The downside is that an hour of yoga is hard.

Trey, our instructor, was great - wandering around the darkened room, calling out sequences, gently correcting poses - and both Brooklyn and I are looking forward to going again.

First, though, I have to make it through the upcoming week, which will include a couple of BodyPump classes and some cycling.

Assuming I can drag myself out of bed in the morning, that is.

Another New Start

Very busy birthday weekend for my teen daughter, but took the time amid all the hustle and bustle to make it official - we are now members of a gym, specifically Sky Fitness And Well Being.

We are planning on attending a hot yoga session after church tomorrow, just to get our feet wet, and then I'll begin in earnest with a combination BodyPump & S-Cycle class at 5:30 Monday morning.

Join me on my new fitness journey right here and on Twitter at @SEBenway!