Cream of Consciousness

I installed Google Earth on my computer at work and have had fun zipping around the globe looking at satellite images of everything from my house to the Grand Canyon. You have a first person, overhead view as you lift off from one location and fly across the country (or around the world) to the next. I caught myself thinking, "This is what it must be like for Superman!" How nerdy is that?

I was typing an assessment at work, and Microsoft Word did not recognize the word disempower. Instead it suggested the word disembowel. Well that would have radically altered the meaning of the sentence, so I politely clicked the Ignore button. Then I got to thinking... There really is no use for the antonym of disembowel. Has anyone ever "emboweled" another living being? There must be other words like this.

*Rob tagged me, so, here’s my list of things I miss from childhood. It echoes some of the things that others have mentioned.

Boy Scouts- I was heavily involved in Scouting from elementary school until the interests and temptations of adolescence took over (around age 15). I had a wealth of diverse and valuable experiences through scouting. I also learned a lot of skills that have long since atrophied, but at one point in time I was a competent camper/survivalist, lifeguard and naturalist. Sadly, I will have nothing to do with Scouting as an adult because of the organization’s position on homosexuality.

Bikes- My old 10-speed took me anywhere I needed to go. As an adult I rode quite avidly for exercise for a few years, but it just wasn’t the same as when the bike was my only means of wheeled transportation. Allowing me to ride on my own was one of the first clear examples of my parents trusting me to take care of myself.

Role-Playing Games- There was a span of time between 6th and 9th grade when my friends and I invested an obscene amount of time playing RPG’s. Mostly D&D, but we also played Rune Quest, Champions, Top Secret, Star Frontiers, Star Trek, Boot Hill and others I can’t recall at the moment.

Summers Off- Vacations are nice, but there was nothing like a 2-month break. You didn’t have to feel guilty about wasting a lazy summer day, and you had the time to work on long projects (like fort building!) My dad was a school teacher, so I got to spend a lot of time with him over the summer. This allowed us to take…

Long Vacations- (up to a month), and we camped across the country on one occasion and up the coast thorough the eastern provinces of Canada on another. We managed to travel through all 48 contiguous states seeing more of some than others. We visited the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone, but also lesser known but no less spectacular parks like Zion and Mesa Verde.

Wiffle Ball- We had a church field and the grounds of the local elementary school for countless games of baseball (and in the fall and winter, football) with the rules modified to fit the field of play, the available equipment and the number of players.

My Metabolism- I used to be able to (as the Coneheads said) consume mass quantities of food and drink with no ill effect. My metabolism kept up into my 20’s, but now I have to work harder (or more accurately workout harder) to compensate for my dietary indiscretions, and I just don’t have the time.

I’m not sure who hasn’t been tagged yet, so you all better stay on home base (and no electric lines!)

Someone freakin' spammed my blog with an anonymous comment !!! Is nothing sacred!? I feel so dirty.

Vineland is the home to New Jersey's only operating drive-in movie theater (I think). Open since last summer, the Delsea Drive-In operates nightly in the summer and offers a double feature for $6.00 ($3.00 for kids). This is great compared to the $8-10 you pay at the multiplexes. The movies are first-run; 2 weeks ago we saw "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "The Fantastic Four". Even the food at the snack bar is reasonable compared to what you pay at the indoor theaters. The facility is a work in progress. Last year they were working out of a catering wagon and port-a-pots, and now they have permanent structures for vending and restrooms. Gone are the tiny mono speakers you would hang on you car door. Now you simply tune to 90.5 FM and listen through your car radio. It's a long night, but a lot of fun. The more family-oriented movie is first, and if you're lucky the kids nod off before the second film begins around 11:00pm. I extend an invitation to all my friends to join us for a night at the drive-in. If Vineland is a bit of a trek for you to come for an evening, you are welcome to spend the night at our house after the movie. We live off exit 3 of the Turnpike at the top of the AC Expressway.

On the way back to the hospital today I stopped at the local ShopRite to get a drink. While walking past the "Bistro" counter I noticed a pyramid-like arrangement of pre-prepared foot-long hoagies. Above was a sign that in bold letters read, $1.99. "Hmmm... that's a mighty cheap lunch." I thought, and off to the self-service check-out I went with one and a 6-pack of Dr. Pepper. Well, let's just say that a $1.99 hoagie tastes just like you would expect. Having suffered through the $2.00 steak, the $2.00 lobster and the $1.99 crab cake, common sense should deter me from making such an unwise food choice, but no.