Late Suimmer's Night Musings, Browns Pre-Season, the Olympics

Well folks, I know its been awhile on the blog. Haven't had much chance to simply sit and type more fun non-sense but hey:

First of all, the stinkin power supply on my laptop died. Well it was 3 years old but still.. I ended up getting a new laptop from Best Buy for half the price of the one I got 3 years ago, and with more than triple the performance. That's what 3 years of tech progress gets you. Really hated to buy another one but the display was starting to get a slight flicker when I adjusted the screen and as anyone who knows about laptops can tell you, once the LCD screen goes, time for a new laptop.
(And yes, I did order a new cheap power supply for my old laptop which I'll keep for now as a backup. Hope the screen holds out.
Did I mention that I still hate Microsoft Vista. Wish I could have stayed with XP but at least this one seems to run OK).
Sheesh, this laptop (HP Pavilion dv6000) has more memory and power than my home desktop, and is lighter to boot.
Also my older laptop had trouble with incoming digital TV signals, it was simply too slow to process them. No problem with analog TV but analog goes away in a few months anyway. The new one has a digital tuner and software built in.

Only what, 10 days or so till the 2008 NFL Season opens. A lot of people pick my Cleveland Browns to be a playoff contender (I hope). Unfortunately they have really stunk in pre-season but pre-season games are worthless anyway. You can look great in pre-season, then stink up the joint when the regular season gets underway. Here's to a 2008 Browns playoff team.

The 2008 Olympics are over but I always enjoy watching, especially the swimming competition (having once been a competitive swimmer). Its so great seeing the hard work and dedication of our Team USA athletes pay off with Olympic medals. I managed to get our little girls, Gigi and Laci to watch as well, especially the female events such as gymnastics, swimming and diving. Trying to teach them early what hard work can do for you. Hope the lessons take hold. I always feel a little melancholy when the Olympics are over as I know its two years till the next one (or four years till the next Summer games) as I enjoy watching them.
My wife, Kyrsten enjoyed the Equestrian events which we were able to watch online, her being into equestrian sports herself.


Well one of our girls got to try on her new cheerleading outfit. Gigi (9) was so excited to try on her outfit for the first time (and I got the pics to prove it). She's cheering on a Pop Warner cheerleading squad for kids. I like to encourage her into athletic endeavors as the lessons learned will carry on with her (which is why I encourage her to watch the Olympics as well).
I might post a pic here later but I'm always concerned about posting pictures on the Internet so I'm not sure yet. Just so beaming proud of her though.
Her sister Laci (4) goes to the practices to watch as well, which I encourage. Hey you never know, we might have the next Nastia Liukin, or Dara Torres here.

The Jacksonville Jaguars NFL site is now offering their single game tickets for sale and after seeing the prices for our section for the Browns-Jaguars game in October, I see I got a decent deal on the 4 tickets I already got. Guess getting my tix early paid off.

I'll add more to this posting as I think of it. Right now my brain is toast and its hot outside. Despite that, I always feel sad when summer ends, even in Florida.

GodSpeed Tony Snow (1955-2008)

Sad to hear this morning that one of my news reporter heroes, Tony Snow has passed away due to cancer. He was only 53.

May God watch over his family he leaves behind.

God Bless You Tony.

Grooveyard Update, ABBA & "Jam Up & Jelly Tight"

Well folks, its a special July here for yours truly. Our first Fourth of July with our girls, or actually just one (Laci). Gigi is in California with Aunt Holly, she'll be back next week. So we had our Fourth of July with Laci. And did she ever love the fireworks in the sky over the Indian River in Cocoa, FL. We watched from my MIL's riverfront condo and even got to put her new telescope (Christmas present from yours truly) to use.
And add two more children's DVDs to our collection. First Diego and the Sea Turtles adventure. That was Laci's pick. I picked one for the girls though this time, Speed Racer, The Next Generation
Kind of interesting when comparing it with the original Speed Racer.

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And now a Hank's GrooveYard of Old Time Favorites Special.
This month seems to be dedicated to the music of ABBA (remember them?). Well Sirius has dedicated an entire channel (Channel 3) to ABBA's music. This is all in celebration of the movie release of the musical Mamma Mia.
I have a confession here, I actually like some of ABBA's music (which sends my friends from the Cleveland Browns DAWG POUND into fits of laughter) but really they were quite the talented group. I've just added three of my favorite ABBA songs to my MySpace page, these being:

Does Your Mother Know
Ring Ring
Summer Night City (couldn't find that one on MySpace though).

Its kinda cool listening to the ABBA channel on Sirius and hearing versions of ABBA songs I've never heard before. The Swedish version of Ring Ring, live version of Does Your Mother Know, and the full-length version of Summer Night City which I never heard before.
And for my wife, I added that ridiculous ABBA song Honey Honey which I know she likes. Egads, gag a maggot hearing that song. Its one of those brainworm songs.

Speaking of the Lovely Lady of the House, she got to try out her new Victoria's Secret bikini over at the condo pool (while taking Laci swimming). Got some pics, I'll see about putting them up here.

"Jam Up & Jelly Tight"
This I believe was Tommy Roe's only hit song of the 1970s as he was a known 1960s era crooner & rocker. His big hits were Sheila and Dizzy. Jam Up & Jelly Tight is my favorite though where he got the title, I just don't know for sure. But this link might provide a clue:

Jam Up & Jelly Tight by Tommy Roe

Also, Tommy's official web site (glad he's still with us):

Tommy Roe's Official Web Site


Well back out to the van, a storm is on the horizon here somewhere in the middle of Indiana. Time to shut the NASA van down for the evening and get ready for the next day's fun activities. Could be interesting at times.

Let Me Take You Dancing, Bryan Adams, 30 years ago.

From Hank's GrooveYard of Forgotten Favorites:


Ever heard a song, maybe a oldie or something off the normal Top 100 track that you really liked but never found out who sang it?

Then, maybe on Sirius satellite radio, you hear it and see the artist and say, WHOA, its a artist you're quite familiar with but you never knew they sang that song.

And to be honest, it doesn't sound like said artist.


I'm listening to a old disco song that I remember from those days and heard on the radio quite a bit. The song was called Let Me Take You Dancing and was a popular dance tune in the day.

But its who sang it that really is the surprise. And you wouldn't know it by listening as the artist was quite young back then, and the studio did speed up the recording slightly to match the normal beats-per-minute for a late 70s disco song, which in turn raised the pitch of the artist's male voice.

The artist..
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wait for it...
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Bryan Adams




Wikipedia Entry on the song

DiscoMusic.com Information on Let Me Take You Dancing




You can Hear the Song here, select the 12" Luongo Remix version


Lyrics:

From the edge of the city there comes a sound
Makes you wanna turn your head around
Fills you with desire
Sets both your feet on fire

How could you stand to be alone
How could you stay at home so ...

Let me take you dancing
Let me steal your heart tonight
Let me take you dancing
All night long

Strolling through an easy feel
To the motions that make it rock 'n reel
You can learn to fake it
Keep on trying and you're bound to make it

It's gonna turn up upside down
It's gonna spin you 'round so ...

Let me take you dancing
Let me steal your heart tonight
Let me take you dancing
Let me make you feel alright

Hank the Tank
The Rock Ape of the Cape

BROWNS 2008: Romeo Returns Cleveland To Glory!!

Cue the Beatle's Birthday Song..Gigi and Laci BIRTHDAY

ITS GIGI and LACI's BIRTHDAY(S):

Well folks, right on the heels of Lisa's graduation are the birthdays of our two adopted daughters, Gigi and Laci. Gigi is now 9 (b-day of May 25th) while Laci is 4 (B-day, May 3rd).

Actually we celebrated both birthdays on May 31st. With Aunt Hughanne's help, we all threw a big party for those two little troublemakers (hehehe!!!). Ah but they still love their Daddy Cool Hank (gluck!!). And not only was it family but classmates of Gigi's and Laci's showed up (Laci is in a Catholic pre-school). In fact Laci's whole class practically showed up. Our first birthdays with the girls.
(And I'm still getting all the Silly String out of my hair, ears, nose and wherever).

Note to Lisa: Don't move away to college yet. We still need your babysitting services. Yeah, right Lisa's probably thinking.

AS FOR THE PICS:
Had to get all the pictures copied over from the Birthday party (my card is 4GB in size). Its getting to be a real fun job (NOT) managing all the photographs from various events and assignments. I think I'm a candidate for the Adobe Lightroom software for photo management. Time to go business shopping again.

MCCAIN YOU.....ahh why ruin this entry blogging about politics. Save it for another blog.

Graduation Day...Roses Are Red....

Roses Are Red, Graduation Day 2008:

Well folks, its Graduation time again for someone very special in our lives (me and my wife Kyrsten). This time it is our neighbor, Lisa who graduated from Merritt Island High School. Kyrsten and I were invited and went to her graduation ceremony at MIHS.

Now we’ve been to a few graduations of family and close friends (Carri-Anne, Jessica, Jordan) and now Lisa. And every time this song by Bobby Vinton keeps popping up; “Roses Are Red” in which Bobby sings about his high school steady on Graduation Day. Here a lyrical excerpt:

Roses are red, my love ... doo doo da doooo ...

A long, long time ago, on graduation day.
You handed me your book ... I signed this way:

"Roses are red, My Love,
Violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet, My Love,
But not as sweet as you."

…

…

"Roses are red, My Love,
Violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet, My Love,
Good luck, may God bless you."

This song sticks in my head (a brainworm if you will) because back during my teen hangout days, Mrs Cicero (owner of Cicero’s Roller Rink, Ebensburg PA) would play this song every freaking night at the same time, the Last Skate for Couples. And it was played at my high school graduation some 30+ years ago. Sheesh!! Talk about syrupy karma or something.

But anyway, our lovely Lisa has graduated high school now, my we’ve been her neighbors for what, 6 years now? Where does the time go?

Note to Lisa: As Bobby Vinton would put this, “Good Luck, May God Bless You” We love ya girl.

(We sent the YouTube video of this song to Lisa. Hard to believe they actually made music videos back in 1962 but they did).

Here’s some pics from Lisa’s graduation ceremony.

Lisa (right) with her friend Destini



Kyrsten and I with our lovely graduate Lisa.



Leslie (Lisa's little sister), Leslie's friend, Lisa and Lisa's friend Heather.


Lisa and Heather, best friends.



Lisa's mom, Janine, Lisa, sisters Kelli and Leslie.



Lisa's dad Roy and Lisa.



Lisa's nephew Toby and Lisa.

A Happy Day in the Merry Month Of May...

Well folks, couldn't think of any other title for this post. Yes I know Mother's Day has come & gone and I sent my lovely mom a nice bouquet of stinkweeds. Just kiddding, I sent her a beautiful bouquet of roses with chocolates. She called me to let me know she got them. Kudos to the fine folks at ProFlowers.com (though I would have appreciated it more if they would have mentioned the $9 shipping charge in their ads on the Sirius NFL Channel). But Mom is worth it.


Brainworms:

And another one of those brainworms that you just can't get out of your head. This one from the Radio Classics on Sirius. This morning they had a classic Bob Hope show on and one of his guests was singing the song Why Oh Why Did I Leave Wyoming. I came up with my own version which I was singing all freakin morning:

Why oh Why Did I Ever Leave Ohio
Why oh Why did I ever have to go?
Why oh why did I ever leave Ohio
Because there's a sheriff lookin for me high & low.

Might have been kind of fitting during my troublemaking days as a young US Marine while home on leave, getting dates with cheerleaders who called in to a special radio "dating game" show on the old WGCL radio station. One of the cheerleaders actually called me (this was back in 1980) and we set up a date. Oh was I a real schmuck, considering at the time I was already dating someone. But you know how young men think.


John McCain, Give Me a Reason
Mr. McCain, will you PLEASE give me and most of my fellow Reagan Republicans a real reason to vote for you this coming November. The only reason I have now to vote for McCain is that his wife, Cindy McCain is a drop-dead gorgeous 40ish knockout beauty with a elegance that would make her a outstanding First Lady.
And that speaks volumes because on the issues that matters to most Americans, his positions just plain suck. Economically, he doesn't have a clue about how the free market works. He has alienated evangelicals who will now sit out this election in large numbers (and he needs those votes).

And he didn't help himself with his recent embracing of the far-left extreme environmentalists (and I myself am a environmentalist) and refusing to even consider drilling in ANWR for the oil we so desperately need to get us OFF Middle East oil. Uh Mr. McCain, gasoline is headed for $4 a gallon and this year has been probably the worst year for oil shocks. We need that oil from ANWR, the new North Dakota find, the new find in the Gulf of Mexico and the huge oil shale fields in Utah and Wyoming. All this so we can quit having to buy oil from people who don't like us, like Hugo Chavez.
Come to think of it, if Reagan were here, we'd be invading Venezuela and kicking his sorry ass out, much like we did with Noriega in Panama.
But do we hear anything about getting more oil from McCain and the mainstream the Republican Party? No, they're too busy courting the vote of the 4% of voters who are on the leftist fringe of the environmental movement, while alienating the 50% or so of Christian voters.
Not smart McCain, not smart.

Bobby Vinton Music:
Finally, time to dig out the old Bobby Vinton CD as a special person in our life has a very special time of her life coming up very soon. I'll save this one for the next blog so till then, you'll have to guess. But it does include a very special song sung by artist Bobby Vinton, who had some nice hits in the early 1960s (and he's still with us).

So as Bob & Doug McKenzie would say:

Good Day
Good Day
(What a hoser I am)