Just came back from my local town's (Bowie, MD) fireworks display. For such a small town they really do a good job. This is really saying something where the fireworks show right next door (Washington DC's) Fireworks on the Mall gets national coverage. Although the show in Washington did get Jerry Lee Lewis out of his rocking chair and sing Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On and Great Balls Of Fire while playing the piano, of course. Although the lyrics sound slightly creepy coming out of his septuagenarian yap. "Shake it baby, shake." Sounds like he's asking for his pureed peaches to be mixed a little. And 3 miles down the road is Six Flags where owner Dan Snyder (also owner of the Washington Redskins football team) puts on quite a show. Driving home from our quaint by comparison show, we could see the Six Flags show but Washington is a little distant (10 miles in a straight line). But still, a satisfying show that my daughters adored.


Web Junkie

Steve West scours the Web searching for interest or absurdity and then shakes his head ruefully when he finds it. Read more »

Book Autopsies

An artist named Brian Dettmer has a unique talent, at least I've never seen anything like it. Book autopsies in which he pares books to various levels and displays portions of their contents, words and illustrations, for an interesting perspective. Very clever. Go »

The Five Stages Of Patriots Grief

The Giants are the greatest 10-6 team of all time! Go »

Vacation Week

We took the girls to the National Zoo in Washington D.C., a part of the Smithsonian network of attractions. Home of the famous pandas, the National Zoo is incredibly diverse and seemingly comprehensive. Go »

Halloween Post #6: Celebrities In Costume

Small sampling of early costume parties. I don't remember vampires draping themselves in roadkill but what do I know. And Diddy looks like he's holding the head of Elvis. Go »

Stuff Happening

Brenda and I have placed a bid on a little house in Bowie about a mile from where we currently reside. It keeps the children in the same school district and keeps us in the little town we've grown to love. Closing is set for a month from now on Friday of Labor day weekend so it gives us three days to move furniture and settle in. Go »

Good Morning, Let's See Who's Dead

A website devoted to tracking who's alive and who's not. Most entries are for the recently passed but also some entries to silence rumors. Also, a neat feature to read obituaries and find photographs of actual grave locations. Go »