Horoscopes and City and Colour

I consider myself to be of sound mind and a generally pretty reasonable person; when I'm doing planetarium shows at work, I always tell the kids that ASTROLOGY is not a science and ASTRONOMY is. But I always feel like a little bit of a fraud, because love reading my horoscope. Or anyone's horoscope for that matter. I don't really believe in all that business, but I think the idea that it might be true is fascinating. I guess I just don't want to rule out the possibility that there is some cosmic interaction at work.

The Orion Nebula is not where horoscopes are made.

I'm a Taurus (May 9th, for those of you keeping track at home) and I think the characteristics suit me pretty well. I know, I know, they are always generalized and could be anyone, but I don't care. According to the Huffington Post (no, really) "Taurus isn't necessarily like a Bull in a ring with a toreador. You could be more like peace-loving Ferdinand, seeking the gentle meadows filled with flowers, sunshine and natural beauty. It's only Taurus stubbornness that can make you angry enough to charge at someone who is disturbing your peace." I do love a good meadow. And it was on the internet, so it has to be true.

The best horoscopes I've ever read are in the Jackson Hole News and Guide. They were always oddly specific. I'm tempted to subscribe just so I can get my daily horoscope. Unfortunately they are not available online.My second favorite horoscopes are done my Susan Miller of astrologyzone.com. You want details? Susan will give you details. Lots of them.

This week's hot jam is The Girl by City and Colour. City and Colour is actually just one guy named Dallas Green (a city and a color, get it?) And he's from Canada. Hence the added U in Colour. This song speaks to my inner emo kid. I just just imagine converse-wearing high school girls pining away for some tattooed, guitar playing, sensitive soul to sing this to them. Okay, that would have been me in high school, I admit. I also really like that Dallas looks kind of like Kip from Napoleon Dynamite in the video. Swoon?

Last Great Race and Jerry Reed

Saturday marked the start of my favorite 9ish days of the year - The Last Great Race - the Iditarod. Currently Lance Mackey is in first place. He is quite the character and one of my favorite mushers. This year my friends and I trailgated (yes, trail, that's not a typo) the ceremonial start in Anchorage. For $10 we got a koozie and all the beer we could drink and all the hot dogs we could eat. Probably the best idea ever.

Anyway, back to Lance. When he came by our trailgate, someone tried to hand him a PBR but he missed it. Lance is not one to give up a beer, so he stopped his sled (generally not done) and grabbed the beer then continued on. He nearly caused an accident, but I suspect he thought it was worth it. I assume it was that PBR that put him in first place. You're welcome, Lance.

People riding in the sled during the ceremonial start are called 'iditariders'. It's one of my goals in life.

Martin Buser caused quite the stir this year, after speed-racing to the Rohn check point, he decided to take his mandatory 24 hour rest. Normally teams wait until much later in the race before they take their layover. According to the Anchorage Daily News he's been planning this strategy for 8 months. He was in 30something place while the other mushers raced ahead. Now he's in 8th and everyone ahead of him still needs to take their 24 hour layover. Seems like his strategy might be working. The Iditarod is serious business.

Click to see it larger. Mushers take the southern route at Ophir this year.

I'm rooting for Matt Failor. He was in second place until the Rohn check point, where, like Buser, he took his 24 hour layover. During the ceremonial start Matt also got off his sled at the trailgate. But instead of stopping for a dropped PBR, he stopped to shake hands and say hello to everyone. He could have been a senate candidate - if senate candidates travel with 12 dogs and a large parka.

In the spirit of long distance racing, the hot jam of the week is Eastbound and Down by Jerry Reed. Yes, the theme to Smokey and the Bandit. I heard this song on the radio twice this week. I took it as a sign. If I was an Iditarod musher this is all I would listen to. Screw getting diphtheria serum to Nome, the boys are thirsty in Atlanta. If that's not enough to inspire you, I don't know what is.