Blow-out!

Clearly, yesterday's post only served to antagonize the lunar menace that has been plaguing this little corner of heaven lately.

This morning, as I was barreling down I-4 in rush hour traffic, one of the front tires on ye olde Blazer decided to explode.

Fortunately, yours truly was able to safely exit the interstate and thump-thump-thump to safety.

But, the repair bill remains to be seen.

Ah, well, such is the price one must pay, I suppose, when one tangles with a celestial menace . . .

How long does a full moon last, exactly?!

Yours truly asks that question as he has made our nearest natural satelite the scapegoat for all the odd annoyances that have cropped-up around this little corner of heaven lately.

Ye socks have already been regaled with stories of dead cell phones, failing headlights, etc.

Well, the latest installment in this ongoing melodrama includes the crashing of our internet network at the office and a speedtrap along the route home this afternoon . . .

Suffice it to say that a lot of folks in these parts will be very happy when we move on to the next lunar phase.

Watchin' the detectives

No, ye socks, yours truly is NOT referring to that great old Elvis Costello tune. Rather, Monday evening finds PBS premiering the latest season of "History Detectives" in this little corner of heaven.

They're going to be exploring an odd map of Iwo Jima, exploring the roots of a copperhead cane, and introducing more than a few folks (I suspect) to an odd instrument called a "Theremin."

More details at the show's website: http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/

Aldi Experiment: Part 2

OK, after the original experiment failed due to lack of currency and debit cards, yours truly decided to give Aldi another try this fine Sunday in sunny Central Florida.

Why oh why, ye socks may ask, would one drive 5 miles to the middle of Pine Hills to pick up some groceries when there is a Publix literally within walking distance of his humble abode?

I suppose it was just the novelty of it all.

The prices weren't bad, either.

But, I'm still unsure whether either of those considerations really made the trip "worth it."

I think "Part 3" of said experiment will involve another location, so stay tuned.

Making the best of it

One thing yours truly has learned in recent years is this: If you have to do something you'd rather not do, then try to balance it out with doing something fun that you wouldn't normally do.

Today, as I had to head up to Apopka to deal with the pending vacancy at ye olde rental property, I decided to make the journey more palatable with a sidetrip to Renninger's Flea Market in Mount Dora.

Said sidetrip was made all the better by undertaking it with some good friends and eating way too much Mexican food afterwards!

To make things better, I found the house in great condition and got to show it to some great people, too. In fact, I'm hopeful that it may not go unrented for too long after all!

Don't let anyone tell you that flea markets, friends, and food can't cure what ails you!

House for rent in Apopka

UGGGGGHHHH!

Yours truly just discovered that the family currently renting his former home in Apopka will not be renewing their lease next month.

If any of ye socks know of anyone who may be interested in renting (or buying) the place, let me know!

No headlights!!

I suppose it wasn't enough to lose cell phone coverage yesterday.

Tonight, as yours truly was leaving a thoroughly enjoyable dinner out with cousins, he discovered that he had NO HEADLIGHTS!

Fortunately, it wasn't TOO dark. In fact, I think we might have had a full moon tonight. (Perhaps, THAT is the source of all the mechanical failures?!)

Anyway, there was some white-knuckle driving on the streets of Orlando this evening . . . not to mention an inordinate level of police activity along the route home!

I suppose it was past time to visit the mechanic, but this was one heckuva way for ye olde Blazer to remind me!

RIP, mobile phone . . .

In case any of ye socks have been trying to reach yours truly via his much-coveted mobile phone number, I must warn you that technology has failed us all this fine summer day.

So far, our friends at SprintNextel have been unable to revive my dead cell phone.

We've not given up all hope, mind you. But, a replacement has been ordered from their fancy warehouse up in Atlanta, and should arrive "no later than Friday."

In the mean time, "old-fashioned" email might be the best way to stay in touch . . .

The Lovely Bones

So often, yours truly will remark, "The book was better than the movie." But, ye socks won't hear me make such an utterance in this case.

I suppose, one cannot make a more subjective statement concerning the latest DVD selection from our friends at Netflix.

But, words alone could not have conjured a more chilling character than the one portrayed by Stanley Tucci in this 2009 adaptation of the 2002 novel of the same name.

Indeed, the whole cast does a frighteningly good job of retelling the story of a serial killer from the perspective of one of his victims: a 14-year-old girl from Norristown, Pennsylvania. Particularly good are Mark Wahlberg (who plays her father) and Susan Sarandon (who plays her chainsmoking grandmother).

Bottom line: Disturbing, yes. But, worth watching.

The Blind Side

Yours truly just finished watching the blockbuster hit movie by that name, courtesy of our friends at Netflix.

The biopic is based on the true-life story of NFL great Michael Oher, who was adopted by the Tuohy family of Memphis, Tennessee.

To be sure, this is a feel-good film. It should be, given the source material and the great cast. The latter includes Quinton Aaron as Oher, Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw as his adoptive parents, and Kathy Bates as his tutor. (It also features cameo appearances by a host of current and former SEC coaches who shall remain nameless here, because none has as yet coached at THE University of Florida.)

But, after watching it, I was not nearly as impressed with Bullock's performance as the Academy was when it awarded her with an Oscar. As a Southerner, I just didn't buy her character's accent. (It wasn't nearly as convincing as Meryl Streep's contemporary conjuring of Julia Child's regional inflections.)

Bottom line: suitable for family movie night, but a little overblown.

Remember Dad this Father's Day

Leap Year

That's the title of the latest DVD selection that arrived in this little corner of heaven, courtesy of our friends at Netflix.

It refers to an old Irish tradition whereby a woman is "allowed" to propose marriage on February 29th.

The film follows an even OLDER chick-flick formula.

It "stars" Matthew Goode and the very-fetching Amy Adams. John Lithgow also appears briefly as Adams' hapless father. Unfortunately, none of these capable actors are capable of redeeming this film.

Frankly, the best attempts at comedy consist of a series of lame sight gags. And, the stereotypical portrayal of the Irish "supporting" characters was nothing short of offensive.

Honestly, the only way to enjoy this piffle was to ignore what the people on the screen were doing and try instead to soak in the images of rural Ireland that serve as a backdrop for much of the film.

Bottom line: If you must rent it, consider clicking the "mute" button.

Scanning old photos

While yours truly may not be completely helpless around a computer, he must admit a lack of ability when it comes to scanning old photos.

Over the years, several friends and family members have offered their encouragement in overcoming this deficit.

All to no avail, I'm afraid.

Fortunately, from time to time, one of them will offer to do it for me!

This go-round, it was a n0t-so-distant cousin who kindly volunteered to digitize a stack of photos from my personal collection--including this one of my great-great grandfather Paul Macy standing in fron of his old home on Joyce Street in Pine Castle, Florida.

Thanks, Lauren!

Wanted Poster

This picture of my nephew (taken by his VBS teacher) made my morning, thought I'd share it with ye socks!

PCPD update

For ye socks who have been following the ongoing efforts to revive Pine Castle Pioneer Days, the site committee met this morning on the festival grounds to discuss lay-out of arts/crafts vendor booths.

We scheduled the meeting to start at 9am, with the hope that we could get our work done before the summertime heat became too unbearable.

While we failed in that effort, we were successful in identifying a great central spot for said booths, took the necessary measurements, and should have a final map, etc., to report back to the finance committee by their meeting on June 30th. If they approve, all of this will get passed on to the next general planning session for the final go-ahead and vendor packets will be sent out next month. (For more info, email: pinecastlepioneerdays@hotmail.com .)

In the mean time, dealing with all the heat generated by the asphalt parking lot out there served as a rather uncomfortable reminder of my need for a haircut. So, I'm now headed to the barbershop. (There's must be a pun somewhere in that last statement . . .)

I need a haircut!!

Ye socks who know me well, know that yours truly tends to keep his locks trimmed.

It's not so much a function of any delusions of dapperness as it is the result of necessity.

Living in this little corner of heaven, especially this time of year, makes it extremely uncomfortable to sport a moptop.

I was reminded of this as I headed out the door at 7 o'clock this morning and heard on the car radio that the thermometers already read 91 degrees!

Unfortunately, the chop shop that I frequent is not open on Mondays. So, it looks like I'll have to wait another 24 hours . . .

Crazy Heart

That's the title of the latest DVD selection that arrived in this little corner of heaven from our friends at Netflix.

Jeff Bridges earned an Oscar for his leading role as a washed-up musician in search of redemption. (And, he actually deserved the award, unlike other recent winners.)

He is supported by other big names like Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, and Robert Duvall.

Warning, this film will take ye socks down the dark descent to "rock bottom" that an alcoholic must find before aforementioned redemption may be found.

It is very "real" in that regard.

It is even more "real" in that the redemption Bridges' character thought he would find is not at all what he had envisioned.

Bottom line: probably not the best choice for family movie night, but worth the journey.

Bathing the Blazer

Lest ye socks think yours truly might have stumbled across a cheaper alternative to dry-cleaning, let me assure you the title of this post refers to a long-overdue car wash.

That's right, I finally broke down and soaped up the neglected old Chevy.

I was even inspired to clean out the interior.

So, she's not only sparkling like the gem she is, but can actually cart a couple other human beings now instead of all the piffle and nonsense that usually rides around with me!

Elementary, indeed!

Yours truly just finished watching the latest DVD selection forwarded to this little corner of heaven by the friendly folks at Netflix: "Sherlock Holmes."

This is not the stodgy "Masterpiece Theatre" interpretation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stodgier sleuthing series.

Rather, this is the more recent interpretation featuring Robert Downey, Jr., in the title role and Jude Law as Dr. Watson.

It has something for everyone. Cohesive storyline. Lots of action. Witty dialogue. A good-looking leading lady. A dastardly villain. Cool scenery/costumes. And, most importantly, sets the audience up for an inevitable sequel.

Bottom line: rent it, you won't regret it.

Pine Castle Pioneer Days - finance committee meeting

Organized people are amazing, and yours truly was amazed today at the Pine Castle Pioneer Days finance committee meeting.

Our new finance chairman did a great job of running the meeting, and keeping everyone on agenda.

By the time the committee reports back to our general planning session next month, they will have accomplished two of their primary tasks:

(1) Establish an admissions policy and ticket pricing.

(2) Create a vendor packet for all of the festival's arts and crafts vendors.

If any of ye socks are interested in helping us revive this festival, either as a member of the finance committee or otherwise, please send an email to: pinecastlepioneerdays@hotmail.com

Waiting . . .

Well, ye socks, today yours truly once again finds himself learning the lesson of patience.

This lesson plan seems to pop up an awful lot in the curriculum around this little corner of heaven.

Apparently, there was some sort of accident on I-4 that is delaying the delivery of a package to our office.

And, guess who gets to sit here to wait for its arrival?!?!

Read the book first!

So, the latest DVD delivered to this little corner of heaven by the friendly folks at Netflix was the adaptation of Audrey Niffenegger's recent best-selling novel "The Time Traveler's Wife."

I read the book about a year ago or so, and enjoyed it. Not only did it have an interesting premise, but it made a pretty powerful statement about the eternal nature of certain interpersonal relations.

Too heavy for ye socks?

Well, the movie version isn't heavy at all.

In fact, I would guess that anyone who hadn't read the book in advance would think the film adaptation is more than a bit contrived.

Bottom line: if you're gonna watch the movie, read the book first.

Cooler by degrees . . .

Had to laugh at the radio weather forecast I heard as I was heading out the door this morning.

Apparently, this little corner of heaven is going to be welcoming a "cool front" today!

It's ONLY going to be 92.

Whoo-hoo! Break out the sweaters and hot cocoa, and I'll go get the ice skates!

Everybody's Fine

That's the title of the latest selection brought to this little corner of heaven by the friendly folks at Netflix.

Yours truly figured it couldn't be half bad, especially given the all-star cast. It includes Robert DeNiro, Drew Barrymore, and Kate Beckinsale.

More importantly, it has a good premise that allows for great character development. And, that's a fairly rare commodity in this era of special effects and computer-generated piffle and nonsense.

Basically, a recently-widowed father plans to have his 4 adult children visit for the weekend. But, they all back out at the last minute. So, he takes it upon himself to travel across the country to visit each of them.

I won't ruin the cinematic experience for ye socks by revealing what he discovered in the process.

Bottom line: worth the rental.

Congratulations for graduations

Heading up to Apopka this afternoon to celebrate with some Blue Darters.

The AHS class of 2010 will actually graduate tomorrow in the old arena in downtown Orlando.

But, it's a lot easier to get a large crowd together to celebrate the occasion on a Sunday afternoon than it is on a Monday morning.

Anyway, congrats to all the grads out there, but particularly to Jacob Hess!

Now, pass the deviled eggs and tell me when the coconut cake is going to be ready!

Scratch that off the weekend to-do list . . .

So, I've discovered the trick to getting the lawn mowed around this little corner of heaven is to risk annoying the neighbors by getting out there early.

Not, TOO early, mind you.

8 o'clock is my own self-imposed limit.

But, we only have a very narrow window of opportunity to get this chore done before it gets too beastly hot around here.

So, if any of ye socks were annoyed by the roaring engine, you have my apologies . . . but, not my promise to abstain from said behavior again next weekend!

4-day work week a mixed blessing . . .

The groans that occasionally escaped from my file-laden desk today served as a reminder that we had eight fewer hours to accomplish the same amount of work this week.

I suppose the logical solution would be to come in here on Saturday and give said desk some much-needed relief.

But, no one has ever called me "Spock," so I'm still going to call it a weekend.

Hope ye socks enjoy yours!

A little reminder from driver's ed . . .

So, we finally got some of that rain, the lack of which yours truly whined about in a previous post.

And, yes it was accompanied by the standard thunder and lightning.

While the precipitation was more than welcome (says my parched lawn), it apparently was the culprit for several traffic light problems around this little corner of heaven.

I can testify that the lights at the intersection of Virginia and Mills were definitely out of order during this afternoon's drive time.

It was shocking to see how many people have forgotten that means said intersection immediately became a FOUR WAY STOP.

Take your turn in said situation, and remember the old Sunshine State slogan: "Arrive Alive!"

Pine Castle Pioneer Days

Wow, ye socks!

Today's general planning session for Pine Castle Pioneer Days had a great turn-out!

Yours truly made the mistake of showing up "right on time," instead of being the usual few minutes early.

But, by the time I arrived at Belle Isle City Hall, there were no empty spaces to be found in their parking lot!

Instead, I had to park across the street and take a hike in the afternoon heat.

This meant, instead of being "right on time," I was actually a minute or two late. And, it can be kinda embarassing when you have to explain that to a packed house . . .

Still, it was very encouraging to see that many people eager to help us revive this festival.

If any of ye socks are interested in joining us, email pinecastlepioneerdays@hotmail.com. We can always use an extra set of hands!

Get unplugged!

After watching Bruce Willis' recent release "Surrogates" on DVD (thanks be to our friends at Netflix), allow yours truly to encourage ye socks to get back to reality.

Power-down the computer.

Put down the iphone.

And, yes, step away from the boob tube.

The "futuristic" view of our society portrayed in this flick was more than a little disturbing, because we're really not that far away from the day when these little devices become our primary means of human interaction.

Kinda scary.

This I point out in the form of a blog post?!