apoldion

No, I am not referring to some obscure and/or bizarre fishing lures.

No, I am not referring to the NASA program.

Rather, what I am referring to are the ancient Greek gods, Apollo and Dionysus.

Are you scratching your head in confusion? Are you trying to figure out what in gods' names these two could have to do with your beloved (at least, I hope I'm your beloved) Dante? Are you nodding sagely, and saying in the plummiest of British tones, "Ah yes, no doubt the chap is making reference to the ancient cults devoted to the two gods."? If you exclaimed, "Yes!" in a non-sexual ecstasy sort of way to the first two, you're not alone. (This is starting to sound like some infomercial pitch.) If you answered, "Yes," to the third, I say either "Mad props to you (mah friend Andy taught me that expression; I think it's right cool) for your sagacity" or "Give me a break, you aren't getting into my pants that easily."

In ancient Greece, there was a Cult of Apollo and a Cult of Dionysus. Apollo is the god of music, prophecy, and healing -- around today, he would most likely be a Gospel-singin', Jesus-lovin' televangelist. He represents order, symmetry, balance, and so on -- okay, maybe the televangelist image doesn't work; let's make him a dour Puritan. By contrast, Dionysus is the god of the vine -- *hick* yesh, thash the *hick* vine I'mmmmm talking *hick* 'bout. Not surprisingly, he represents disorder, wild abandon, impetuousness, and so on.

If those cults were still around today (and by cult, quell thoughts of the Branch Davidians, please), I would most likely belong to both -- hence, the lure of Apollo, the lure of Dionysus. At one and the same time, I desire both the influence of Apollo and the influence of Dionysus in my life, and I've found that my lifestyle reflects it.

My tastes are both Apollonian and Dionysian, from the intellectually sophisticated to the cheesily lowbrow. My wardrobe reflects the Apollonian influence: rather preppy, often straight-forward and unadorned. My appearance is also Apollonian, what with my spartan hairstyle and the fact that I spend all of 30 minutes in the bathroom each morning, and that includes shower time. My sense of humor is both Apollonian and Dionysian: dry wit requires orderly control in the delivery and disorderly impishness in the formulation.

And in the bedroom, I'm totally Dionysian ... but since this is supposed to be a family-friendly website, I won't go into the lurid details, thought I know many of you salivate at the very thought.