June 15, 2008

• Yesterday I had a graduation party for Don and Dayna's daughter Karine. I have known them for the better part of 15 years so it totally blows me away that Karine has graduated from high school. The party started at 2, but I didn't leave my house until after the Cubs game ended about 2:45ish. I got there right around three in the pm and there were not a whole heck of a lot of people there yet. I gave Karine her card which contained the unusual amount of  43 dollars American. Why $43 and not $40 or $50 or $25? Because I've always been a just a little bit odd and $43 is odd. Also, everybody else always gives a normal amount and you all know me, I've always got to be different.

  Dayna's brother Daniel was there with his son who will be 3 in September. I had never met his son, but shortly after meeting him it was obvious to see that the kid has some developmental difficulties. For starters, he doesn't walk yet. He also doesn't talk. He also always has his hand in his mouth. He is adorable though and at one point he and Daniel were standing next to me when out of the blue the boy let go of his dad's hand and took mine, even though I didn't make any sort of move to try to get him to come to me. Its sad to see and know the struggles the boy is going to have in his life, however I think that the parents did some things during the pregnancy that had an effect on him.

  Later on in the evening we wound up playing Rock Band. This was the first time I had ever played it and since I've got no musical talents whatsoever when it comes to playing an instrument, I chose to do most of the singing. I've always thought I had a decent voice, not very good but not overly horrendous either. And even though I knew some of the songs very well, like REM's "Orange Crush" it was not as easy to sing as I thought it would be as I didn't know all the words and they come up on the screen kinda quick. Another song I sang was "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones which might not have been as easy to sing, but it was definitely more fun. I was able to scream into the mic at the high parts of the song and also had a chance to strut around like Mick Jagger at some points as well much to the amusement of those in the room with us.

  Later on we played Wii sports and I was introduced to another version of Wii bowling in which you progressively have to keep on knocking down more and more pins until you get up to a lane filled with something like 91 pins. Although it sounds hard, its not as bad as it seems. Somehow I wound up with the highest score of the night and the 2nd highest on their game.

  The party ended shortly before midnight and I headed home.

  I've made up my mind, I'm going to take a road trip in August. Its been years since I've had an extended road trip and I'm sick of waiting around to try to find somebody to go with. There is so much of the country and world to see that given the choice between staying home or going by myself, I've decided to go by myself. As I mentioned before, 60 years ago this summer my dad and 2 of his friends took a road trip down to Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee among other places and I want to try to recreate that trip. If I can find somebody to go with great, if not well that's ok too. Although I'm a little scared of driving that type of distance by myself there is also a sense of adventure and Into the Wild excitement (although not nearly as extreme) to the whole idea of taking a long extended road trip by yourself. I've got one friend who tells me that she loves to take road trips by herself and that she thinks I'm going to love it. Although that remains to be seen, going by myself sure as hell beats not traveling. I've got a very strong desire and passion to see the world and will do it even if I have to go by myself. I know I want to go to Dallas to see where Kennedy was killed. Dave has always been somewhat obsessed with the Kennedy assassination  and has often said that he would drive 18 hours to the grassy knoll, stay for 10 minutes and then come home. And while I'm every bit as crazy as Dave to do something like that, I think I will probably spend more than 10 minutes in Dallas, maybe even take in a Rangers game in nearby Arlington. I also know that on the way home I want to swing by and stop off in the gambling mecca of the south, Tunica, MS. And also I hear there are some kick ass resorts in Hot Springs, AR that would be cool to check out. Outside of those things, I'm open to anything else.

  • 5:14 pm
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