Flashback Saturday

I watched something on TV tonight that I thought I would never ever willingly watch - a MMA (mixed martial arts) fight night on CBS.  I have to say that it was like the proverbial wreck on the highway - I had to keep watching and couldn't look away. 

Let me preface by saying I hear about the MMA stuff every day at work, so I'm quasi-farmiliar with it. And I had no intentions of watching the fights tonight on TV, but I ended up being engrossed.  I have to say that while watching it, I truly believe I was chanelling my Grandma and Grandpa.  For, you see, every Saturday night when I was a kid, I would watch wrestling and roller derby with Grandma and Grandpa.  And I truly felt their presence tonight while watching Gina Carano and Scott Smith battle against their opponents tonight.  It was definitely a flashback moment to the early 70's with my grandparents. 

It was a Saturday night tradition - we would watch "Hee Haw", and then change the channel to wrestling.  And then at 10:00 we would watch "The Carol Burnett Show", and at 11:00, we would watch the roller derby.  They would let me stay up late on Saturday night, even though I had to be up early for Sunday School.  It was an awesome Saturday night.  We'd watch all of these shows, and have a snack of popcorn and orange soda, with one of my favorite candy bars thrown in. 

Tonight, I truly felt like I was back in the early 70's with my grandparents.  I think if they were alive they would have watched the MMA fights with me tonight.  And I'm sure we would have had our popcorn and orange soda, too.  And they would have been yelling at the TV just as loud as I was earlier while watching the fights. 

Flashback Friday

                 

While I was at work today amid all of the drama and chaos, my mind drifted back to this week in 2000 when I took a trip down to Nashville. Here is one of my favorite pictures ever taken of me, in front of the world's famous Toostie's Orchid Lounge.  Please note I am wearing one of my top three favorite t-shirts. 

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Wasn't That Supposed To Be Funny?

I was relaxing tonight after taking my bath and decided to watch "Last Comic Standing".  I watched last season's shows, and thought this season's comics would be just as funny.  Boy, was I wrong.  I listened and watched over 20 so-called comedians, and I only laughed one time during the entire show.  The only funny joke was from a comedian who was talking about the self check-out lanes at the grocery stores.  He made a comment about how he picked out the food and was checking hisself out, and asked if he needed to stock the shelves when he was finished checking hisself out.  Well, I thought it was funny, and it was the only time I cracked a smile during the show.

"Last Comic Standing" went off, and I was engrossed in my magazine and kept half-listening to "The Office", which came on next.  Some friends have raved on and on about the show, telling me how funny it was, so I thought it would have to be funnier than "Last Comic Standing."  Wrong again.  I didn't smile or laugh the entire show.  Maybe it's just me tonight; maybe I'm a tough sell when it comes to laughter.  But the only funny thing I saw during "The Office" was a new commercial for American Express starring Ellen DeGeneres.  It just hasn't been a funny night.

Live To Ride, Ride To Live

I went for another hour-long bike ride after supper tonight, and I'm proud to say this is my second long ride of the week. I rode over seven miles, all in record time.  And I did it while wearing my cool new padded bike gloves and helmet.  Yes, a helmet.  After hearing Mom and Dad and everyone else whining about how I needed a bike helmet in case I fell off, I finally got one this past weekend.  I have to admit it's not nearly as uncomfortable as I thought it would bel in fact, after I've been riding a few minutes, I hardly notice it on my head.  It looks very cool, and with my wrap around Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses, I look like I should be in the Tour de France or something. 

Get Well Soon, Big Brown

TWIT would like to wish a speedy recovery to Big Brown, who has a three-quarter inch crack in the inside of his left front hoof.  The crack was discovered yesterday, and a hoof specialist stitched up the crack with stainless steel wire.  It had healed enough overnight to allow the unbeaten colt to go for a mile and a half jog around the track at Belmont Park this afternoon.  When asked if he looked as good as he did before winning the Preakness on May 17, his trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said "He might look better."

Big Brown will attempt to become the first Triple Crown champion in 30 years, since Affirmed in 1978, in the Belmont Stakes on June 7.  TWIT wishes all the best of luck to Big Brown, his jockey, trainer, owners, and all of the other staff that watches over him. 

Happy Memorial Day

It's been an awesome Memorial Day for me.  First of all, I got to sleep in this morning instead of having to get up early to go to work.  That was very sweet.  Then I got the chance to walk down on the floodwall and [after a nice nap] ride my bike this evening.  I'm a little tired tonight but it's all good.  While riding my bike this afternoon, I passed by a cemetary where people were placing flags on the graves of veterans.  After I turned around and headed back home, I rode back to the cemetary and just stood there for a few silent moments as I watched the volunteers placing the flags by the gravestones.  For years I've seen this same scene on the evening news on Memorial Day, but I'd never witnessed it first hand.  It was a very solemn, moving experience.  I was misty eyed as I watched the volunteers place a flag in the ground and then take a step back and raise their hand in a salute. 

I don't mean to sound sappy, but I think that we should celebrate Memorial Day and Veterans Day every day of the year and not just on one day.  Every morning that we get up and get ready for the day ahead we should thank the Lord and the veterans that fought and died for our freedom. 

Link Of The Week

At TWIT, we always are on the lookout to help worthy charitable organizations.  This week, I found a site that helps out the SPCA and the World Wildlife Fund.  All you have to do is submit a photo of a place that you've been.  Visit http://www.zorro-the-cat.com/ and check it out.  There's no stipulation - the picture can be of literally any place that you've been.  And the site will contribute (through the kindness of their sponsors and advertisers) $5.00 to either the SPCA or the World Wildlife Fund.  Tomorrow, I plan to go through my photo archives and send them some photos to use.  Please take a minute and do the same.