Needles--So Very Pokey!

How's the Needle Challenge?  So far, so pokey.

I just can't seem to get my biscuit in gear.

True, things started off alright.  On Thursday, I took the new ironic cross bike out for a ride in the park, where I learned that owning a bike with racer-gearing is a humbling experience.

Holiday as Dog-stacle

Friday--did nada, oh, except for hanging out with my family visiting from Oklahoma and then seeing the $nacks at Christophers.

No one told me everyone was wearing plaid to the Snacks!

Saturday--was planning on going to spin class, but the family visit continued through brunch.  And, Saturday night was George Clinton* and the Parliment Funkadelic.  (More on George in a bit), after which I got my fill of vitamin C at a local bar that fresh squeezes all of their juice.

P Funk!

Sunday--I hemmed and hawed and decided not to, then decided to do, then decided not to, then decided, for reals, to do the Cranksgiving.  I didn't want to go because it was cold and wet, but that is not a great excuse when you own $5,000 in outerwear.  The event involves racing around town on a bike, going to 10 different stores to get 10 different items to donate to charity.  I rode around in a mockery of fast-ness in the cold, which reminded me that could also be fun.  If only all my grocery shopping were done by bike and by speed, I'd be much happier.

Monday--I packed up my stuff to do spin class after work, but we decided to go the Obama rally, so instead, I took the dog to the park and made dinner.  We did drive the bikes down the Bait shop and rode them over to the rally to avoid parking hassles, which was smart, but not a workout.  If only standing in the cold and yelling "forward" burned calories.

At least we wore cycling caps!

Tuesday--I was tired and nervous.  After work I canvased for a couple hours, which was a nice walk, punctuated by empty house-door knocking and some snacks at the headquarters.  Then, stayed up way too late to watch acceptance speeches.

Volunteering = snacking

Wednesday--so. sleepy.  Did nothing.

Thursday--told myself I needed to sleep in to get rested from Wednesday.

So there you have it.  It is already Day 8 and I am behind in this challenge.  I still have high hopes for turning this Needle Challenge around, and George Clinton is the reason!

Okay, so I have seen a lot of P-Funk concerts.  My friend Pete is obsessed with funk music, and I liked hanging out with Pete, so I started tagging along.  I've seen them in Kansas City, in New Orleans, and at least three times in Des Moines.

Usually, George Clinton, looks, well, busted.  He is famous, but he looks so rough that he routinely gets tossed out of stores and hotels because he looks like a bum.

"I am coming for your baloney!"

Also, for most of the concerts I have been to, he comes out for a few songs, but then retreats to the back.  He is sort of like the exclamation of the concert.

So, when the show started at the Val Air on Saturday night, and there was a man in a tailored beige suit and fedora on stage, I thought nothing of it.  I just assumed he was one of the rotating cast of P-Funk-ers that plays the shows.

Then, one of the younger guys on stage says something like, "oh, I bet y'all came here looking for some guy in crazy, colored dreads, well, he ain't here tonight."

Then, I got a little mad.  "What?  Clinton wasn't even going to show?"  I felt duped, though, in all honesty, my tickets were free.

Then, the guy pointed to the guy in the fedora and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, the legend, the one, the only, George Clinton."

Then, the fedora guy took off his hat and bowed.  "Ha, I thought, he must be some sort of George Clinton impersonator, but he is doing a really bad job."

Then, my friend Pete commented on George Clinton's suit.

"Wait," I said.  "That's George Clinton?"

"Yeah," said Pete.

Holy Heck, he looked completely different.  He looked like a preacher.  Clean-cut, well-groomed, in a suit, and to top it all off, he looked "there."  Not all cracked out.  And, he stayed on stage for virtually the whole show.  He did sit down a few times, right up front, but hey, the guy is 70!  He was dancing and singing and conducting everyone else.  It was like a new person!

Here's a picture I snagged right after the show.

Just kidding.

But seriously, he looked good.

And, if George Clinton can turn from a cracked-out looking bum to a suit wearing, orchestra conducting, bad-ass 70 year old, well, I can get off my biscuit and do some push ups.