Happy boogaloo

It's not that i feel the need to throw a party for myself, but it just serves as the perfect catalyst for inviting a crapload of people over to the house to participate in some good time-havin'. It was only what seems like a few weeks ago when some friends and i were discussing the idea of an outdoor movie projected on the side of a house. While i've entertained the idea in the past, it was this conversation, and a forthcoming thirty-fifth birthday which finally set this thing in motion. The decision on which film to show as a feature presentation was an important one. It would have to be one which made a lasting impression with me from an early age well into adulthood. After much deliberation, the obvious choice was of course the 1985 masterpiece directed by budding filmmaker tim burton and starring paul reuben's childlike character pee-wee herman, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure.

We began making plans on how we would pull off this incredible feat. How would we affix a bed sheet to the broad face of the back exterior of our house? How, you ask? Why, duct tape of course. I called in a favor for a theater-style popcorn machine, borrowed a projector from some old friends, and braced myself for the impending 'disturbing the peace' call. Well sir, when the highly anticipated evening finally arrived, i never could have guessed what a success the entire event would be. We had over 65 guests throughout the evening including family, high school chums, college buds, new friends, old friends, & neighbors. Why, we had visitors travel from as far as Bowling Green and Fort Wayne to be a part of the festivities. When all was said and done, we had a back lawn full of folks from all seasons and sectors of life lounging and laughing together beneath an open sky occasionally lit by stray bottle rockets being fired from the adjacent apartment complex.

My deepest heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone who came out to the rockey home to make the evening as spectacular as it possibly could have been. I'm not sure i could have asked for a better way to celebrate getting older.

Riding shotgun with a black man

Why yes, that is a toasted melange of rolled oats, quinoa, milled flax and cinnamon. Also, yes these are some of the tasty ingredients found in the batch of granola bars we created from the comfort of our kitchen this afternoon. Again, i absolutely would love to share with you the recipe for such a delicious and aromatic snack choice. Our friend and partner in craftology, Rachel, sent Mama Jane a link to this delightful post.

The final verdict: Mmmmm...

By the way, have you ever pulled up to a gas pump in a radio flyer town & country to purchase two dollars worth of unleaded gasoline? Baby Jane has.

In other news: Brother from another mother, Nelson, and myself took a late night drive through the country in his pickup truck. The goal was to retrieve a couple sweet Schwinn cycles and another hand-me-down propane grill from the folks. All was going according to plan until the fuzz pulled us over. Apparently, the plate in the back window warranted some suspicion from johnny law who informed us that beat-up pickup theft is an enormous problem in them there parts. I, however, am convinced that my friend and i were subjected to an unmerited case of racial profiling. As we later rolled out of my parent's driveway, I asked if we looked at all suspicious. My concerned father assured us that we merely appeared as though we were stealing bicycles. We all chuckled nervously before my comrade and i cautiously continued homeward. While conversing with friends earlier this evening, i had recounted the time i stood behind a shed with my childhood friend while watching him consume a bomb pop which was defiantly purchased from the ice cream man after said friend's mother warned him otherwise. I swore that i was either a.) going to jail, b.) going home early, or c.) never having the privilege of enjoying a frozen treat ever again. In over twenty years, i have never had that feeling again until the night i rode shotgun through shelby county with a black man.

What the flip

We finally got to introduce ourselves to a nice couple who have been flipping the crap out of the vacant house to the north of us. The house directly south of us is still a mystery... although the lawn was freshly shorn this afternoon.

Hmmmm.