Slick as snot on a doorknob...
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
Memorial Day – Pennsylvania Style
YES – We had another fantastic Memorial Day picnic today and most everybody was there to enjoy it. The above picture is a quick “cousins” shot we took just before our final game of dodge ball. We also played kick-ball (go Patti), soft-ball (home-run Tony & game winner Tommy), dominos (Tio Tito & gang) and the usual “too much food” (including Carlos’ chuletas).
As Danny Quag reminded us, we were there to remember our war soldiers past & present. The other big hero was our cousin Nair (not pictured) who braved her cancer condition and joined us nonetheless with her husband, parents & kids.
We are very blessed to have our family, our country and our freedom. God bless the USA!
The Ultimate Beach Chair
:-)
It reclines, props your feet up and it has an overhead thingy to keep
the head from getting too much sun (much needed). I'm in heaven.
Ulyses
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Spiderman 3 and IMAX
We went to see Spiderman 3 Saturday night. It was ok. The computer generated graphics were amazing but the story line was so hokie and corny it had me gagging in a few spots. The most exciting thing was watching it at an IMAX theatre.
The theatre is on I-Drive near all the tourist attractions. It has stadium seating (450) and major surround sound. The screen is over 6 stories high and the resolution was unbelievable. Normal films are shot in 35mm. IMAX films are 70mm X 70mm, 10 times larger than normal films. It was well worth the extra few dollars they charge ($12). In July they're showing Harry Potter's new movie. I'm not a big fan but I'll probably go to the IMAX showing of it.
Shrek 3
It was ok. I'm not a fan.
I know this is not Shrek.
The Gator is his school mascot and this thing was sitting in front of the movie theater.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Manamana
Man, I miss this show.
This is better than whistle while you work... a sure way to get out of a funk.
I do a little cameo at the end there.
This is better than whistle while you work... a sure way to get out of a funk.
I do a little cameo at the end there.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Friday Night Dance Jam
When you sing of the joy only love can bring
Heaven knows it's in my heart and my soul.
Caught in a world full of tears
so many sad times and fears.
So while there's a chance and you're near -
Well, Let's dance
Singer is Chris Rea.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Grumpy Old Man
This one is rated PG-16. Tom: Keep the kids away.
Actually it's not that bad. The old man's language is a bit salty.
But give the man a break.
He's been married for 46 years.
Actually it's not that bad. The old man's language is a bit salty.
But give the man a break.
He's been married for 46 years.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
How to Make Your Own Drive-In Movie Theater
I thought these things had gone away. I've had many interesting experiences at the 309 drive-in in my home town. Ron/Tom: Is it still a drive-in?
I remember "watching "A Clockwork Orange on a night that was so foggy we could hardly see the big screen. After we wiped the the inside windshield we noticed it was foggy outside too. HA!
I remember "watching "A Clockwork Orange on a night that was so foggy we could hardly see the big screen. After we wiped the the inside windshield we noticed it was foggy outside too. HA!
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Random Thought of the day
To what extent does time distort memory?
I read the line in a book and as a fan of history it intrigues me.
I read the line in a book and as a fan of history it intrigues me.
Rant of The Day
Credit cards have made it nearly impossible to utter these words:
I can't afford it.
I hate it.
I can't afford it.
I hate it.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
DVR / TIVO
As an adult I’ve never been a big fan of TV. Most of the shows were makeovers of old shows. The worldview of most shows was nowhere near my worldview and I was not amused or entertained. Sitcoms were usually an insult to my intelligence and don’t get me started on the laugh track. I think you may too stupid to get the jokes so let me tell you when to laugh.
Puleeze.
When the kids were young I refused to get cable. Too expensive and why would I want to subject my kids to that kind of garbage? Besides, there are much better ways to spend your time. Soooo, as soon as the kids went off to college we got cable. Ha! What can I say. I was pressured. Well, I come to find we weren’t missing much. More channels, same crap. I did turn in once in a while but nothing worth following on a weekly basis. That is, until last year’s season of 24.
I was hooked. We both were which is a rarity. We have very different tastes when it comes to the tube. We were so hooked that in between seasons we caught up with past seasons on DVD. I have to admit that this season has really been a let down but I have other shows taking up the slack.
All my shows are recorded faithfully on our DVR and I get to watch them when I want. I can watch Scrubs Saturday morning or Boston Legal right when I get home from work. And the best part? (Everyone on their feet for a standing O) I zip through the commercials, only stopping for the ones that make me laugh. Somebody shout “Praise the Lord!” I am so spoiled I cannot watch TV in real time. I refuse to watch commercials. It’s even spilled over to my radio habits. I will change the station as soon as they cut to commercials. I’m sick of ‘em. I’m so use to watching TV on the DVR that it’s gotten to the point where Blue Eyes and I will go to a movie and I’m reaching for the remote to rewind a part that I missed (as an aside, I find that happens pretty regular….must be the age thing).
The downside of the whole experience is that I find myself watching more TV that I ever have. There are better and more important things to do. But on the other hand, I have become a more efficient TV watcher. A 30 minute show now takes 20. I can usually cruise through Boston Legal (no good commercials) in 40 minutes… and I really don’t watch that many shows. Here’s my list of weekly shows I watch in order of favorites:
- The Office
- Boston Legal
- Scrubs
- Heroes
- 24
- Frontline
- Independent Lens
That’s it. You’ll notice 3 of them are comedies but none have laugh tracks.
If you add up watch time it only comes to a little over three and a half hours a week. Not bad. The problem is I’ll watch a few of them 2 or 3 times. Ai caramba.
Puleeze.
When the kids were young I refused to get cable. Too expensive and why would I want to subject my kids to that kind of garbage? Besides, there are much better ways to spend your time. Soooo, as soon as the kids went off to college we got cable. Ha! What can I say. I was pressured. Well, I come to find we weren’t missing much. More channels, same crap. I did turn in once in a while but nothing worth following on a weekly basis. That is, until last year’s season of 24.
I was hooked. We both were which is a rarity. We have very different tastes when it comes to the tube. We were so hooked that in between seasons we caught up with past seasons on DVD. I have to admit that this season has really been a let down but I have other shows taking up the slack.
All my shows are recorded faithfully on our DVR and I get to watch them when I want. I can watch Scrubs Saturday morning or Boston Legal right when I get home from work. And the best part? (Everyone on their feet for a standing O) I zip through the commercials, only stopping for the ones that make me laugh. Somebody shout “Praise the Lord!” I am so spoiled I cannot watch TV in real time. I refuse to watch commercials. It’s even spilled over to my radio habits. I will change the station as soon as they cut to commercials. I’m sick of ‘em. I’m so use to watching TV on the DVR that it’s gotten to the point where Blue Eyes and I will go to a movie and I’m reaching for the remote to rewind a part that I missed (as an aside, I find that happens pretty regular….must be the age thing).
The downside of the whole experience is that I find myself watching more TV that I ever have. There are better and more important things to do. But on the other hand, I have become a more efficient TV watcher. A 30 minute show now takes 20. I can usually cruise through Boston Legal (no good commercials) in 40 minutes… and I really don’t watch that many shows. Here’s my list of weekly shows I watch in order of favorites:
- The Office
- Boston Legal
- Scrubs
- Heroes
- 24
- Frontline
- Independent Lens
That’s it. You’ll notice 3 of them are comedies but none have laugh tracks.
If you add up watch time it only comes to a little over three and a half hours a week. Not bad. The problem is I’ll watch a few of them 2 or 3 times. Ai caramba.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Country Music
I should like country music. I believe it's where Rock and Roll went to live after being pushed off the pop music scene by the crap that’s on there now. Lyrically it’s all about family, relationships, God and country…. and those are good things. Country artists and writers seem to be real people which is also appealing to me. Even though you don’t hear it as much, the twang never bothered me. I would argue there’s more twang in Bluegrass and ever since O Brother Where Art Thou, I love bluegrass. So it’s not that I don’t like Country music, it’s just that I don’t listen to it. Well, why not?
I found this song a few weeks ago (Go ahead and listen to it while you read). It's called A Bad Dream.
I was watching Scrubs, one of my favorite TV shows, and at the end of the episode this song came on. It was so haunting I just had to find it. It’s by a UK band called Keane. After playing it a few hundred times (I tend to do that with new songs I like) I wondered what it was about this song that I liked so much. That’s when I came up with my thoughts on Country music.
In Country music lyrics there is little room for ambiguity. It wears its heart on its sleeve for all to see. He/She broke my heart, or this is how I feel, or I love my country …and I’m going to tell you about. In detail. Check out a few of these gems:
- I'm Under The Table Over You
- I've Been Carrying a Torch for You so Long that it's Burned a Great Big Hole in my Heart
- I'll Marry You Tomorrow, But Let's Honeymoon Tonight
- If You Can't Live Without Me, Why Aren't You Dead?
- Beauty is Only Skin Deep, but Ugly Goes Clean to the Bone
- Did I Shave my Legs for This?
- How Can I Miss You if You Won't Go Away?
- How Did You Get so Ugly Overnight?
You can find more here but I digress.
Is there any doubt about how these people feel? I don’t think so.
The music I most enjoy is where the lyrics are subtle, ambiguous and a little obscure. You're not really sure what they're singing about and it could mean this but it can also mean that. Half the fun of listening to the music is trying to figure out what was going through the songwriter's head as they wrote it. You can't do that with Country. They tell you exactly how it is up front.
I also enjoy lyrics that make you think. These are some of my favorite songwriters. Most of the list will probably date me but they just don't write them like they use to.
Sting
Jackson Browne
Paul Simon
U2 (Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr., Adam Clayton)
Peter Gabriel (Genesis)
Bruce Springsteen
Elton John (Bernie Taupin)
Don Henley/Glenn Fry - (The Eagles)
James Taylor
Randy Newman
Meanwhile, I'll try to listen to Country... at least just to keep my assistant, my mom and my friends in Georgia happy.
Oh, one more thing.
Ron: Before you start flaming me on this post, I'll throw you a peace offering (don't forget to turn the other one off if it's still playing).
Crank it up.
I found this song a few weeks ago (Go ahead and listen to it while you read). It's called A Bad Dream.
I was watching Scrubs, one of my favorite TV shows, and at the end of the episode this song came on. It was so haunting I just had to find it. It’s by a UK band called Keane. After playing it a few hundred times (I tend to do that with new songs I like) I wondered what it was about this song that I liked so much. That’s when I came up with my thoughts on Country music.
In Country music lyrics there is little room for ambiguity. It wears its heart on its sleeve for all to see. He/She broke my heart, or this is how I feel, or I love my country …and I’m going to tell you about. In detail. Check out a few of these gems:
- I'm Under The Table Over You
- I've Been Carrying a Torch for You so Long that it's Burned a Great Big Hole in my Heart
- I'll Marry You Tomorrow, But Let's Honeymoon Tonight
- If You Can't Live Without Me, Why Aren't You Dead?
- Beauty is Only Skin Deep, but Ugly Goes Clean to the Bone
- Did I Shave my Legs for This?
- How Can I Miss You if You Won't Go Away?
- How Did You Get so Ugly Overnight?
You can find more here but I digress.
Is there any doubt about how these people feel? I don’t think so.
The music I most enjoy is where the lyrics are subtle, ambiguous and a little obscure. You're not really sure what they're singing about and it could mean this but it can also mean that. Half the fun of listening to the music is trying to figure out what was going through the songwriter's head as they wrote it. You can't do that with Country. They tell you exactly how it is up front.
I also enjoy lyrics that make you think. These are some of my favorite songwriters. Most of the list will probably date me but they just don't write them like they use to.
Sting
Jackson Browne
Paul Simon
U2 (Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr., Adam Clayton)
Peter Gabriel (Genesis)
Bruce Springsteen
Elton John (Bernie Taupin)
Don Henley/Glenn Fry - (The Eagles)
James Taylor
Randy Newman
Meanwhile, I'll try to listen to Country... at least just to keep my assistant, my mom and my friends in Georgia happy.
Oh, one more thing.
Ron: Before you start flaming me on this post, I'll throw you a peace offering (don't forget to turn the other one off if it's still playing).
Crank it up.
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