Happy Birthday Dad!

Yeah, I'm a few hours early, even by my time, but too bad. It's every son's job to embarrass his dad at every available opportunity. I'm not sure I've been living up to that and am trying to catch up.

I remember that one of the first times I told you how much I loved and respected you for the sacrifices you made while Bob and I were growing up...over gumbo at the Oyster Shanty next door to the Hog's Breath Saloon in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. I was nervous about it but needn't have been. You've always been easy to talk to and in fact sometimes hard to get to shut up. Don't change.

At least one your step-daughters loves you as much as I do and that says a lot more, at least to me, than my expression of it does.

It doesn't change my feelings though. You're one of the good guys. Happy Birthday! Gayle, it's a pretty significant milestone...hiring a stripper or are you going to be brave?

Love,

Dick

For me at least...

the ones where Lileks begins and say he has nothing, zip, nada...often turn out to be the ones I link to. I wish they had raccoons in Cyprus so I could make me some goulash. Read it...and smile.

Another timewaster...

timewaster

It's not a virus, but you treat each color like one and try to make the screen all one color in the fewest moves. Just click on a few colors until you figure out what's going on.

Serves me right...

for enjoying a sport like rugby. I get a t-shirt a month from a company with artwork from clubs around the world on them. Some are cool and some aren't but I got one that made me laugh today. The package has been sitting in my car for awhile and was a bit dirty so I was disappointed when I opened it and saw that apparently whatever had soiled the package had stained the shirt as well. The stain on the package didn't look like it was made by a liquid so I was surprised a bit. I opened up the shirt and, I think, realized that the stains were part of the design, I'm guessing to resemble the stains a shirt acquires at a post match drink-up. Kind of cool looking...

I'm not certain...

whether I'm advertising my comments or her writing, but being an egocentric ass...hey, make up your own mind. Lili's writing again and writing with a purpose. Please take some time and let her know what you like and don't like. I try to be nice, but see the above...I didn't like what her latest was about...oh well, you can read it there.

I was invited...

but living where I do, was unable to attend. I'd recommend following their link to Chelsie's site for more revealing footage. I hope to meet up with them and quaff a few during my next visit home.

Gators and snakes and spiders...oh my!

Sounds like Serenity is adjusting to life in Florida just fine! I wouldn't mind doing something like she did someday. You can find the first part of the adventure in her archives.

fun to read

No, not me...follow the link I'll give later.

Most of you know I don't have children...never a goal, but not a responsibility I've consciously avoided either. As John Hiatt sings, "It just worked out that wayeeeeeeeeee!". I get along with them pretty good and there's something that some young ones find amusing about my appearance because a lot of them smile at me. I smile back and wave and then usually grin sheepishly and shrug my shoulders at the kid's parents.

I've mentioned this before about this site I read almost daily, but as a reminder, James Lileks has a way of describing his interaction with his daughter that actually makes me regret not having one to embarrass. He's into collecting a lot of eclectic things and while he's a good writer...he should be, he's a columnist...some of those don't interest me but I always like reading about Gnat and Jasper the dog. In my opinion, he's at his best when being sentimental. For those of you who like old matchbooks, photos, movies and other oddities of our nations popular history, try his main page and keep clicking...especially his bleat archives...enjoy. I have. It's been fun watching someone grow up this way.