Itzoe.net

Despite some high winds, we had some terrific weather Sunday, so we took a drive out to Dogtown where we like to stop under the trestle because trains pass by there every thirty to sixty minutes (or more frequently).

Its funny how our tastes change as we get older. Like most kids going trick-or-treating, there were certain candies I dreaded getting, chief among them peanut butter kisses (you know, those nondescript things in black and orange wax paper wrappers), Bit O' Honey, Mary Janes, and anything licorice. And that was okay, because Dad would make that great parenting sacrifice and eat that stuff for me. Now, as a parent, I make that mighty sacrifice myself and consume the licorice and peanut butter kisses the kids bring home. Yum.

Wow, it's already been over two weeks since Labor Day and I still haven't gotten around to posting the photos from our latest outing. Maybe it doesn't feel pressing since we did the same thing we did two years ago. The difference this year, though, is we knew what to expect.

I don't usually like to toot my own horn when it comes to things like my birthday, but I figured what the hell. So for no other reason than I can, here are people with whom I share this day.

I took this last Thursday, and it's taken me this long to do something with it. So sue me. Also, not terribly exciting. Boo hoo. Ya know what? It's not often I get the chance to actually film a train in motion, so when I get it, I take it.

I know I haven't written much about Lucy, the younger of our two Jack Russell dogs. If Zoe (the other one) has a fault, it's that she's just not down with wearing clothes. As soon as a dress or sweater goes on, she thinks it's time for a ride and starts into the non-stop whining like a six-year-old on Christmas Eve. Lucy on the other hand, is fine with clothes, to where we think she looks "naked" without them.

With school right around the corner, it was time for the annual family summer vacation. I know it's hard to imagine last years trip being outdone, but this year we ventured a little further than usual and visited the majestic Smoky Mountains and picturesque Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

I'll just come out and say it: I like Taco Bell. Glad to clear the air. So all you haters can just step aside.

No kidding. This was probably 1993. We were at Deer Creek (they've changed the name since then) which, being an amphitheater, has rows that curve around all the way to the side of the stage. So, during one of the numbers, Jon goes to the side where, naturally, everyone rushes, and he did that low five/hand shake thingy rock stars do when fans manage to get close enough. And me, I was able to shake his hand.

Isn't it amazing how something as simple as a song can take you back many, many years? Even if you haven't heard it in forever, it never fails to evoke memories for times gone by. That happened to me twice today.