The roadway: An interstate in Upstate New York.
The vehicles: One VW Jetta, One Suburu WRX, One Acura RSX Type-S.
Top Speed: 101 MPH.
The victor: One Acura RSX Type-S.
The look of the other two drivers when a bald 30+ man effortlessly breezed by them: Priceless.
Earl and I just got back from enjoying the fireworks from the lawn of Utica College. Always a popular gathering place for young and old alike, Earl brought along a bunch of glowsticks and handed them out to all the kids surrounding the lawn chairs we had set up for the show. The kids threw the glowsticks up in the air in attempt to make their own fireworks. There was a dazzling array of orange, pink, purple, blue and green before the official fireworks show began.
I mentioned a couple of days that fireworks should be reserved for Independence Day. I firmly believe that as the dazzling pyrotechnics seem more special when we use them as a symbol to celebrate our country’s birthday.
Mother Nature wasn’t in the mood for a barbecue today, so we went and saw the movie “Click” after enjoying a hot dog (or two) at a locally famous hot dog joint. Nothing fires up your summer like eating a chili dog under a tent that’s being pelted by very large rain drops. Luckily the skies cleared up this evening so that we could see the fireworks!
Happy Independence Day.
Earl and I went and saw “Superman Returns” tonight. Reading various reviews online, reaction to the movie has been rather mixed but we both agree that it was the best film we’ve seen this year.
I really like Brandon Routh as Superman. He carries Superman with just enough twinkle and a touch of cockiness in his eye. I thought the cinematography and special effects were absolutely superb. From the pacing of the movie to the musical score, the whole film has a nostalgic air about it that makes a person from my generation, having grown up with the Christopher Reeves films, quite comfortable with the experience.
Earl and I are thinking about catching this movie again as we hope to see the IMAX version. I’ve always been a big fan of superheroes and “Superman Returns” definitely lives up to my high expectations.
I was talking with a customer day today who ended the call by wishing me a happy holidays. I found this odd. I think it may have been the first time I’ve ever been wished a happy holidays in reference to Independence Day. While the sentiment was in the right place and I took it at face value, to me the phrase just sounded weird. I had a fleeting moment to respond with “Merry Christmas” but I thought better of it. I didn’t want to sound mean.
I sincerely hope that we are not about to go generalizing all the holidays now and have a one-size fits all approach when it comes to wishing others well in the spirit of a given holiday. It’s bad enough that we fire off fireworks at the drop of a hat now. Fireworks should be reserved for the celebration of Independence Day. The only other time that I approve the launching of fireworks is for local volunteer fire departments’ “field days”, and that’s to celebrate the community we live in. These days it seems like we’re dragging sparklers out for any ol’ reason… “Grandma cleaned her dentures, time to launch some M80s!”
I blame marketing people. It’s like these folks that put up Christmas lights for every reason in the world. We have green St. Patrick’s Day lights. We have pink and yellow Easter lights. We have brown Thanksgiving lights. Christmas lights go on the Christmas tree and maybe around a porch pole or two. And that occurs after Thanksgiving and before Christmas. O.k., there are some instances where Christmas lights work in other places, like all white lights in a tree at the mall, on a Walt Disney World parade float or at a popular tradition at local gay campgrounds called “Illumination Weekend”. But I don’t get the Christmas lights going up for the other holidays.
And while I’m approaching a rant here, what is up with exchanging gifts at Easter? A few pieces of candy for the kids and some together time around the family dinner table, that’s it people. The easter bunny should not bring Melvin a bicycle and an X-box.
This generalization of various holidays is taking away from the moments themselves. Our founding fathers gave their lives for the freedom that we enjoy today and we remember this with “Independence Day”. Each holiday is unique and should be honored by remembering the reason for that day. So if you want to wish someone a wonderful Independence Day, make it simple and say “Have a Happy 4th!” or “Happy Independence Day!”, then go out with your loved ones and enjoy the fireworks.
Just don’t put up the Christmas lights and Easter eggs at the same time.
As the waning hours of on-call fall away, I’m busying myself looking up music videos on You Tube. I must be feeling the need for hitting a dance floor in a retro club or something, because here’s what I’ve been watching tonight:
Sonia – Never Stop Me Loving You.
Sinitta – Right Back Where We Started From.
I seriously need to get out of the house.
Earl has been generous enough to make his “refreshing fruit dip” for me to take to work tomorrow and naturally we needed fresh strawberries to compliment the effort. So this afternoon, Earl and I took a short drive down to a neighboring field to do some strawberry picking.
We had such fun.
It’s been about 25 years or so since I last picked strawberries. We used to pick wild strawberries at the airport we were always at (my dad is a private pilot). We’d fill styrofoam coffee cups of these little strawberries, wash them off and then cover them with sugar and eat them. So tasty. Small wonder I was a relatively hyper child.
My grandmother used to take us “real” strawberry picking when we were in our early grade school years. I think I remember eating more berries than what I put in the little cardboard carrier.
Today I only had two berries while we were picking. I had to make sure that they were ripe and ready to go. They were quite tasty.
I’ve mentioned before that I’m a Rosie O’Donnell fan and that I really enjoy her blog. Since Star Jones’ appearance on Larry King Live this week, there’s been a few messages to the “Ask Ro” feature regarding Rosie’s “mistreatment” of Star. For example:
angelawalton@aol.com writes:
You are nothing but trailer park trash. You are notqualified to carry Star’s shoes much less crtique her life. I am sick of fat obnoxious white trash like you.
I love how people feel they can hide behind an e-mail address and spew venemous tripe at people they’ve never even met. At least when I do it on my blog, you know where you can write to say your piece as well. Thankfully, Rosie let us know where we can send a message as well.
I just sent Angela an e-mail. I’m curious to see if she responds.
It’s time for a Saturday Night dance break. We’re going back to 1991 for this one and it’s one of my favorite dance tracks of all time.
Watch the video for Boy Krazy – That’s What Love Can Do.
So here’s a picture of me sitting at my PowerBook. No, I’m not naked, I do have shorts on. I’m just enjoying the breeze from the window behind me.
This is the third week of the new beard, one week of the new mustache. I’m glad I tried the no mustache look but I decided that it really wasn’t for me. Earl has done the same with his goatee and it looks awesome. I’ll let him carry the no mustache glory for the family.
As we’ve been spending time at home today, I’ve been thinking about a few goals I want to attain this summer. One of them is to get my butt back on my bike and to ride a century (100 miles) ride. Somewhere. Anywhere. Preferably along the Erie Canal trail.
As soon as this run of on-call comes to an end on Monday I’m going to be hitting the trails once again. I’m looking forward to the challenge.
Just a guy with a husband. We’ve been together 28 years and he still makes me see fireworks on a daily basis. Hiker. Storm Chaser. Private Pilot. Tech Guy. Hackerish.
Weird? Eccentric!
