Wear drag, help charities

This week's nightlife column profiles a pretty cool Friday event.

In Friday’s Downtown Drag-Race for Charity, participants will dress in drag and race tricycles in hopes of winning money for charities (Georgia Meth Project, Wounded Warrior Project, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee Valley).

The Columbus/Fort Benning Cruise-A-Matics, a local rugby club, teamed with downtown businesses to organize the event, which includes a beauty pageant as well as the races.

Each participant chooses which charity receives his/her registration fee. Participants will compete in the race for money raised by the Cruise-A-Matics and donated by sponsors.

The first place winner of the tricycle races will determine which charity receives 50 percent of that money. The second and third place winners will each get to award 20 percent to their charities. The winner of the beauty pageant will choose where the remaining 10 percent is directed.

Anyone wearing full drag can participate in the event.

Phone home. Or not.

Tell me if this sounds familiar: "If you need to get in touch, send me a Facebook message. I lost my phone again."

It seems like I see that status update at least once a week. Usually on Sunday mornings.

Fortunately, Jezebel has this handy guide for what to do if you get drunk and lose your phone and wallet. An excerpt:

The first thing you should do when you realize your phone is missing is to try to call it. If someone picks up and offers to return it, great! You've found a human unicorn!

If there's no answer or it goes straight to voicemail, borrow someone else's phone, call your provider immediately and suspend service on your line. This isn't the same as cancelling; you can always restart service again if you find your phone.

I've temporarily misplaced my phone in the past, but I've had no major casualties. Perhaps that's because I have an old-school calling device that can't access the Internet. It's not exactly a hot item on the market right now.

Probably my biggest moment of panic was when I realized my phone had been sitting in a Winn-Dixie for hours. I arrived, introduced myself and found my phone waiting for me at the customer service desk.

Crisis averted.

Share your cell phone horror stories in the comments section.

Parenthood

The premise of this story is interesting enough: a couple who got married after being friends for 15 years.

But the story's setup is equally intriguing. A daughter interviews her parents about their courtship.

I'm embarrassed that I know only basic facts about how my parents met. It's not due to a lack of curiosity, but rather the invisible divide that makes you reluctant to view your parents as something other than authority figures.

Of course, they are humans, too -- people who fall in love, put their feelings on the line and even get hurt.

It's sometimes challenging to understand that aspect of your parents' lives without losing them as, well, parents. Does that make sense?

Sadly, we often become most aware of our parents' humanness when it's too late to conduct life's most revealing interviews.

Too hot to handle

Excuse me while I try to remember my name.

Sound familiar? If so, you've probably had an encounter with a Really Ridiculously Good-Looking Person.

A Glamour writer describes the phenomenon here, offering seven ways to keep your cool during encounters with hot people.

I've never been smitten enough to totally embarrass myself, though I can remember some cringe-worthy moments involving junior high crushes.

And yes, even as an adult I've had some moments when love-induced stomach butterflies have temporarily hindered my speech patterns.

But hey...it reminds us we're human, right?

Awkward pregnancy photos

I had a minor life crisis Sunday afternoon, when the first three status updates on my Facebook wall pertained to either baby showers or pregnancy announcements.

Panic.

I relied on my usual recovery routine, reminding myself that it wouldn't be as easy to watch an uninterrupted marathon of "Jersey Shore" if I had a mini-me prancing around the living room.

While I know I'd enjoy aspects of pregnancy/motherhood, there are also parts that give me the hibbie jibbies.

Take, for example, pregnancy photos.

This gallery of awkward pregnancy photos gave me another reason to fear the bare belly photo shoots.

So yeah, I'm OK with a flat belly lifestyle for now.

Married by computer

Would you let a computer preside over your wedding?

It's been done -- just read this couple's story. Of course, the article notes computers don't yet have the credentials to officially marry couples.

For some reason, I don't have a huge problem with the possibility of computer ministers. I'm more likely to take issue with other technology-based offenses, like couples who live-tweet their weddings.

That said, I can't imagine myself shedding a tear while a robotic voice tells a groom to kiss his bride.

And if you choose the computer route, I'll have no sympathy when your minister freezes mid-ceremony.

Power anthem: Shark Week edition

Today's power anthem honors Shark Week, currently under way on the Discovery Channel. Any Shark Week fans out there?

Seize the day!