No, this isn't about Wauwatosa's real Cool Pool at Hoyt Park, whose friends invite everyone to a Valentine's celebration and fundraiser on February 9.

(Though if you go there, you'll get to hear West and East high school students sing and watch Roosevelt's fifth graders tap and fox trot their Mad Hot Ballroom hearts out. And what could be cooler than that?)

 It's about the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Cool Pool weekly round-up of consumer participation opportunities the Cool People recommend. Since the paper is desperately seeking younger readers, the main criterion for coolness seems to be youth--and unlimited disposable income. There's the occasional token Senior Cool Person, such as art gallerian Katie Gingrass. But for the most part, I'm thinking you have to be pretty young to keep up with the exhausting dinner-theater-bar-shopping marathon pace.

I've never been a Cool Pool qualifier. In college, I didn't have the temperament for social engagement-saturated weekends.  There wasn't money for spas, dinners out, and cocktails. Though I did know the Madison bars with great free hors d'oeuvres where you could buy one beer and get fed to last the weekend. Porta Bella comes to mind

This weekend, in addition to avoiding getting caught double dipping during Super Bowl, I'll spend most of my time at a convent facilitating a retreat. About a dozen other people in the four county region think that's a Cool Thing to do.

That leaves a visit to the dog park behind the Ronald McDonald House as my one recommendable Tosa Cool Move. It doesn't cost a thing.

If you want to jump into the Wauwatosa Cool Pool, regardless of your age, I'd love to hear what you are doing around town this weekend. Plugs for Wauwatosa business places from people who patronize them are welcome! So are tales of competitive snow-blowing.