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While we have been obsessing over getting our own wedding invitations printed, other wedding invitations have been filling our mailbox, signaling the beginning of the wedding season.

These are joyous occassions for our friends who are ready to take that next big step in their adult lives. But somewhere amidst adding wedding dates to our calendar, news of another wedding came tumbling through the grapevine - a wedding we were, quite honestly, less than ecstatic about: My nineteen-year-old cousin had just accepted a wedding proposal from her boyfriend.

I'm never one to shy away from a physical challenge. I've completed seven running marathons, an 87 mile inline race, countless inline marathons, a triathlon (even though I still can't swim), and many more challenging races. Today though, I am training to participate in a 100 mile "Century" bike ride called "America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride" as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training. Many of my other races have been rewarding but there is an extra incentive with this one as I'll be racing for a cause.

Up and up: Bet

Some theme nights seem to have too few songs to choose from, while others seem so vast that the contestants' minds are blown to bits. I think that was the case tonight. Where else would you expect to hear Duran Duran, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley? Talk about hitting random on your iPod.

It didn't seem to do anyone much good to have so many songs to choose from. No one blew me away tonight - a bit disappointing considering we are getting down to the wire.

Wouldn't it have been fun to be watching this episode of American Idol with Neil Diamond tonight? If I were him, I would have had a good chuckle over how safe my catalog was. "Ha ha, nice try Archie. Love the flag!" "Oh yeah, that's gold Brooke - you could have been one of the Monkees." "Why don't you change forever in blue jeans to forever in polyester Castro?"

I'll admit it. I checked my bank account more than a few times yesterday, hoping I would be among the first to get my economic stimulus check. You see, I have one of those social security numbers that falls in the much-desired "first batch" category. I've never given much thought to my social security number before, but this week, I'm sending a big wink-wink to Uncle Sam (or whoever is in charge of handing those puppies out).