M - Moist

Moist: thing, word

I really hated the word "Moist" for a long time. Hated it to the point of becoming physically violent (in a mostly joking way) to people that said it purposefully to bother me. I'm not sure exactly why, but it just creates an uncomfortable feeling.

I didn't enjoy the character in "Dr. Horrible" because of his name (and because his superpower hit a bit close to home for me).

I still don't like the word or use it, but I won't attack you for doing it.

SEE ALSO: Puberty, I-Know-Something-You-Don't-Know, Rules

M - Miles

Miles (Davis): person

When I was in 9th grade my dad gave me a cassette tape of part of "The Miles Davis Radio Project" to listen to. I had been playing the Trumpet (or Cornet) since 7th grade. I listened to it obsessively, beginning with the very significant "Red Wing Debate Tournament Weekend" (which may have been 10th grade). The tape was mostly of 80s Miles, including "New Blues" and "Tutu", both of which rocked my socks off.

That following summer I read his Autobiography (and other biographies) and started my CD collection in earnest. I can remember the exact moment I first listenened to "In A Silent Way" (after returning from a very nice weekend at my friend Laura's cabin in Brainerd), which is my favorite single recorded piece of music of all time. I remember listening to Wayne Shorter's crazy sax run about 13 minutes in to it over and over during the particularly difficult "Concordia Debate Tournament of 11th Grade". I wrote an A+ paper analyzing it for Jazz History in college (the only A+ I've ever gotten)

I now easily have more Miles Davis albums than any other artist. I love every period of Miles. I'd be an Electric Miles apologist, except I don't feel there's anything to apologize for.

I have a sweet t-shirt of Miles looking through his trumpet. I had Grad Pictures taken to match.

I don't agree with all of his personal life choices (like the drug habits, or the way he treated the women in his life), but his music is just too Effing amazing to let those opinions color the his musical legacy.

SEE ALSO: debate, graduation, quotation, In A Silent Way, trumpet

M - Mint

Mint - 1: thing, food/flavor. 2: expression

"Mint", meant 'aweseome' circa the late 80s, early 90s. Probably like mint-condition, but maybe like the hot, yet cool, flavor of mint. Whatever the case I made up some imaginary comic book characters named "Dudical Dude" and "Mint Man".

I like the flavor of Spearmint more than Peppermint. Some variety of mint grows in my back yard. Mint goes good in adult beverages, as well as in salads and with rice or couscous dishes, though I'm not a fan of mint jelly.

SEE ALSO: sweet, coins,

M - Metrodome

Metrodome - place

It may have been reviled by baseball purists, but I have fond memories of the Metrodome, and I'll miss it next year. I liked the Big Blue Baggie, the old plexi-glass and the wind that pushed you out of the doors at the end of the game. Outdoor baseball is nice, but when you have to travel 3 hours to get to a game, the threat of rain-out (or snow-out if it's play-off/world series season) is a real deterrent. I don't care if they're ugly, Minnesota needs a retractable roof.

I liked that it pretty much remained the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (named to honor a person, rather than advertise a sponsor). I saw a World Series Game and an ALCS game in the Dome. I sat in a luxury box (and a press-box, but that was for football, and was a debacle). And I'm proud of the Twins undefeated-at-the-dome World Series record.

Like it or hate it, the 'Dome was the 10th man for the Twins, and, as pretty as the house that Joe Better Build is going to be, I think it will take away soem of that home-team advantage that the Twins used to have. I'm also biased, because I think that all of the new-style super-ballparks are way too theme-park-ish (all you need for food is Natchos, Frosty Malts, Hotdogs, Peanuts etc. and over-priced beer... you're going to a Baseball Game to watch Baseball, not out to a fancy dinner). I'm not big on the gimmickness of many of them. I'll reserve Judgement on Target Corporation (tm) Corporate Ball Field until I see a game there.

(I do have to say, despite being the home of the Orioles, Camden is decent for a new-style ballpark.)

SEE ALSO: Noise, Baseball, Home Shopping,

M - Milk

Milk: thing, beverage

When at all possible I drink Skim Milk. I like to drink it after a work-out, or with oreo cookies, or cereal. I rarely drink it on its own. I don't dislike the other types (people who are picky about milk type, like non-crust-eaters, are a big pet-peeve of mine (though occasionally I am that guy)), but I choose Skim 95% of the time. Whole milk is a special treat.

I also like Soy Milk and Almond Milk and sometimes buy those.

I miss referring to Milk by the color of the cap. I disliked drinking milk out of a carton because of the wet flaky paper, which was especially bad if you didn't get a good clean opening on the first try. I preferred the bag-milk because you got a straw and you could inflate them into 'footballs' afterward (though they were far more dangerous for pranks and hooliganism).

I got in trouble in Kindergarten for being vocally proud of myself for finishing my entire Milk carton for the second consecutive day. Lesson: never be proud of yourself for drinking milk.

I remember using empty Milk Jugs as swimming aids when I was very young.

At the-camp-I-used-to-be-affiliated-with, I remember going on a crusade to get some friends to drink Milk at meals instead of Mountain Dew. I even made a Milk(tm) poster of myself (with Hans' help). I'll post it if I find it.

Milk provides Calcium, which makes strong bones, including spine bones. Bones are white and milk is white, and the color white is the color of the pure-driven snow (and the color of purity, but NOT for racial reasons). Therefore it was an official beverage of the Fat Boy Society and THEOOTBSC.

SEE ALSO: secret societies, Cheerleaders

M - Maps

Maps: thing

I especially like when books have maps in them. I suppose that comes from all of the fantasy novels that I read. I think they make it easier to visualize what is happening. I especially liked the Karen Wynn Fonstad atlases. I think maps were also my favorite thing about role-playing games.

I, on a good day, can name just about any country on the map of the world (though the little islands will screw me up most of the time).

Google Earth is my favorite piece of software ever.