Journal Entries
20 July, 2007
Posted Aug 9, 2007
The Police!
As an anniversary gift this year, I stood in the cold one fine March morning for four hours to get tickets to see The Police's reunion tour stop in Hershey. I was cold and shivering, but I did manage to score third row seats on Sting's side of the stage.
It was totally worth it!
They put on a great, great show. At one point Sting walked over and made eye-contact with my lovely bride while she was dancing like a dervish.
As an aside, he is one wildly handsome guy with striking blue eyes. Seeing him that close was startling because I never thought him to be all *that* attractive.
They played all the obligatory hits and frankly I was satisfied after hearing the second song (my personal favourite).
It was a great show (I may have already mentioned that). And it was the perfect anniversary date!
If you get a chance to see them on tour, by all means do it. After their 20-year break, it was awesome to see these three on stage doing what they do best!
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Latest reply: Aug 9, 2007
7 July, 2007
Posted Aug 9, 2007
The family gathered in southwestern Pennsylvania for a graveside memorial service for my grandmother.
The girls and I went out a day early and hiked in the mountains and splashed in the river. (Usually our annual trek out there is in the autumn and it's too cold to get in the water.)
After the service we all went to a diner my grandfather used to take my father when he was a boy. Then we went our separate ways and got back together for supper at Fabrizi's Restaurant.
Sort of a weird trip - having family fun with the girls and yet being out there for such a sombre reason.
Rest in Peace Grace.
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Latest reply: Aug 9, 2007
29 June, 2007
Posted Aug 9, 2007
The lovely Mrs X and I drove north to Scranton, Pennsylvania to catch a concert featuring my favourite band 'Rush'.
The Canadian trio is touring the states in support of their new album 'Snakes and Arrows' and they put on a two-hour show featuring some of their classic tunes from their 30-year career plus a good bit of stuff from the new album.
We had a brilliant time though she did remark that a Rush show was one of the few public venues where there is no line at the ladies' restroom (Rush's demographic *does* lean a bit toward males!).
She's seen them three times now and while she isn't a big fan of their music, she does respect their ability as musicians and thinks they put on a great show.
Bless her for indulging me.
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Latest reply: Aug 9, 2007
19 June, 2007
Posted Jun 21, 2007
A buddy at work found free passes to a local golf course and invited me out for a round today.
We played Fairview Golf Course in Lebanon County. It was the first time I'd ever played the course and it was brutally hot and humid.
Yet somehow, I played really well. I shot a par on the first hole and just started rolling from there. I didn't have any holes where I blew-up and shot an ugly number.
And yes, I finally shot under 100.
I've been playing golf regularly for three years now and this is the first time I got under 100. I've had some close calls with a couple of 103s, but I just kept hitting fairways and greens to wind up with a 97.
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Latest reply: Jun 21, 2007
17 June, 2007
Posted Jun 21, 2007
A little past midnight this morning, my grandmother died.
She was 101 and had been in a care facility for the past two years. It was difficult to watch her fade away there and honestly, it's a bit of a relief that she's finally gone.
Before that she was full of vigour and could easily be mistaken for someone 20 years younger. She lived alone (at her insistance) and drove her little red car until she was 98.
She taught school and married my paternal grandfather when he was her principal in their little school system (she taught in a real one-room schoolhouse).
Her family can trace its roots back to the American Revolution, making her a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
She also played basketball at her teachers' college and was always very proud of that, taking a special interest in college basketball (men's and women's) when it was on television right up into this past March. Thought she never did like what she called 'that darn dunking'.
A died-in-the-wool Democrat, she couldn't stand 'that Bush fellow' or his father. In fact, while she maintained an excellent voting record, I don't think she *ever* voted for a Republican.
Her name was Grace and I cannot hear the hymn 'Amazing Grace' without thinking of her - I think she would like that...
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Latest reply: Jun 21, 2007
Jimi X
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