I have dreams. Big dreams. I want to play the guitar. To some, that might not seem like that big of a dream. But I have pretty much no musical ability whatsoever, so playing the guitar represents a big dream for me.
With such a handicap, some might wonder why I have this dream. Well, first of all, I like a challenge. Second of all, I still have part of that 14-year-old who wants to rock living inside of me.
Now this is the kind of weather I can get behind. When the sun shines like this, all I can think of are care free days, drinking something cold and listening to good music. While I generally abhor columns that are lists, I couldn’t resist this time. I wish I have had more to choose from, but here are the top five songs I have ever seen in concert.
Biko, Peter Gabriel: My buddy Paul and I totally lucked out with outstanding seats for this show in 1987 at Meriweather Post Pavilion.
You hear a lot of commentary from various sources about the social problems facing our country. People worry about the decline of the family, loosening moral values, and the loss of basic concern for others.
Critics of modern society try and point the finger at different sources. Some blame video games. Some blame the culture of celebrity. Others blame permissive parents.
I think something else has caused all the problems we face every day. I blame the people who decided to take “American Gladiators” off the air more than 10 years ago.
When I went away last weekend, I got a chance to look around the greatest mall in the world. Skymall.
Those of you who have never flown need to check this place out. If you have flown and don’t love Skymall – what is wrong with you?
Imagine sitting comfortably looking at the most incredibly cool items ever. Multiply that by 10 and you have Skymall.
I have a confession to make. This shouldn’t worry me since I have admitted it to other people and not had any problems. I just feel so self-conscious whenever I come out and say it. I have Internet friends.
There, I said it. I feel better now. I can go on feeling just as confident about myself as I did before I said it.
I can, right?
Sometimes people complain that our lawmakers pay too much attention to frivolous laws. I tend to agree. I saw something last weekend that requires immediate legislative action. Enough of worrying about healthcare and education and public safety.
We need to take care of dining etiquette.
As a writer and a parent, I think people should do everything in their power to encourage children to read. But I have had it up to here with this Harry Potter stuff. I have to say right off the bat that I have never read any of the Potter books. I have no doubt that adults can enjoy the books as much as youngsters, but I just don’t have that much interest in fantasy.
Besides, the insanity surrounding these things is just getting to be too much.
Most readers probably think that the life of a regular guy is filled with glamour. In a rare look into my world, here’s a brief diary of last weekend when Maria and Bridget left me to my own devices for 36 hours. Saturday
7 a.m. – Say goodbye from underneath the covers as they head off to my mother-in-law’s. 7:01 – Roll over to get more sleep.
7:05 – Realize I won’t fall back asleep and get up.
Over the past few months, I have come to an important realization. I decided that I don’t like being sick. Unfortunately, I have put a lot of research into making this decision. I kind of felt this way when I had bronchitis a couple of times in December, but I thought I’d hold off before making a final answer.
A nice little stomach virus helped me reach that answer this week.
We all need something to take our mind of Britney and Anna Nicole. Thank goodness the time has come for The Brians. This marks the fifth year I have given awards for the best new movies which I saw in the theater during the preceeding year. In 2006, I had to bend the rules and add in movies I rented or bought on pay-per-view because we hardly made it to the movies.
This year, we’re back to the old rules with lots of contenders. In no particular order (except the order I remember them), we saw “Casino Royale,” “Click,” “Stranger Than Fiction,” “Talladega Nights,” “The Break-Up,” and “Date Movie.” The field of six is the largest in Brians history, I think.
We also have a new category for animated films. Those can be called the Bridgets because I came along for the ride to see “Curious George,” “Over the Hedge” and “Ice Age: the Meltdown.”
So without further ado, come down the Rivers-free red carpet and find out the winners.