The thoughts and observations of a 42 year-old who doesn't really feel that old.
If you like what you read, I'd be honored if you added me to your blog roll. :-)
I admit it, I watch a lot of television. A lot more than I really should.
Over the years I've become a bit jaded on commercials. There are the ones I love - that make sense, that are entertaining. And then, there are the ones that I HATE!
I'd like to share a few of the ones I can't stand, and why I can't stand them.
Dairy Queen - S'Mores
I hate Hipsters. Even more, I hate commercials that embrace Hipsters as somehow being cool. What gets under my skin even more is when they are singing the praises of a Dairy Queen blizzard.
REALLY?! Ugh
Breyer's Gelato
The kid's asleep, let's have our ice cream! Oh no, the kid woke up! We have to defend ourselves.
Be adults! Grow a pair and tell the kid to go to bed. Life ain't fair!
T-Mobile - Samsung Galaxy S5
BUY THE NEW GALAXY S5!
RUN DOWN ALLEYS! LAUGH HYSTERICALLY! PLAY THE TRUMPET! SHIMMY!
CHEST BUMP! SKYSURF! HOLD BURNING THINGS IN YOUR HAND!!!
PRETEND TO SUBWAY SURF!
YES! YOU CAN DO ALL THIS IF YOU OWN THE GALAXY S5!!!!
Really?! Make it stop. I think I hate this one most of all.
You've probably seen multiple videos online of people doing the Ice Bucket Challenge.
The basic rules are that, once challenged, a person can either dump a bucket of ice water over their heads, videotape it, and then challenge three other people to do it, or make a donation for ALS research.
Dozens of athletes, celebrities and regular folk have gotten into it.
ESPN ran a story on how the challenge started. I'm not normally moved by stories like this, but I have to admit, it got to me.
WHAT?! School is back in session already? It isn't Labor Day yet!
Well, here in Iowa we generally start the school year 1 to 2 weeks before Labor Day. Our district wanted to get first semester finished before winter break, so we had to start our year even EARLIER! LOL
Matt and I spent last weekend in Kansas City to catch a few baseball games, so last week I made sure to get into my classroom and start putting it together. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are "work days", where we are supposed to have time to get our rooms prepared, but usually we have a number of meetings to attend which eats into our preparation time.
The kids came back on Thursday and Friday. It's great to start the year on Thursday because, honestly, neither the kids nor the teachers are used to being on a regular schedule. Even during the workdays I was tuckered out at the end of the day.
When a district starts on a Monday, by Wednesday the kids and teachers are just zombies.
This year will be quite a year. I'm teaching....
2 sections of Algebra
1 section of 7th grade Accelerated Math
3 sections of 7th grade Regular Math
1 section of Additional Instruction (a class of intensive intervention for a small group of students)
1 section of Tutorial (a structured study hall)
So I've got a good bit on my plate.
Friday night I slept VERY well. It usually takes me a couple of weeks to get my body back on a regular sleep schedule. I get home in the afternoon and desperately want to take a nap. But if I do that, I stay up late, and well, that defeats the purpose. LOL
In 1973, two writer's for the Des Moines Register decided to bike ride across the state of Iowa and write about their experiences and invited the public to join them. That summer, about 300 people rode from Sioux City to Davenport over 6 days.
Riders dip their back tires in the Missouri River at the start of RAGBRAI.
There wasn't a lot of lead time for the first ride and a lot of readers wanted to do it but weren't able to. So, the Register planned a second ride for the following year and a tradition was born.
Each Spring the Register announces the route for the ride which takes place over a week late July. In addition to the starting and ending cities, 6 cities are selected as "overnight" stops, where riders camp for the night. It is a big deal for a town to be chosen as an overnight location.
Why you ask?
No, seriously, ask "why?"
An overnight stop for riders.
RAGBRAI is the oldest and, by far, the LARGEST touring bike event in the world. A touring event is one in which the rider just ride, no racing involved.
So each year, upwards of 10,000 people hop on their bikes and eat, drink and ride across the state.
Yes, I said "eat and drink". RAGBRAI is a rolling party. Iowans along the route will set up stands to sell just about any type of food - especially drinks and pies. And let's just say that bars along the route do VERY well.
RAGBRAI riders come from all over the world, and many rider as part of clubs or teams. Teams create a social and support system for the riders. Teams will have a support vehicle - school bus or RV - that will carry supplies for the team's riders.
Riders will either camp in the overnight town, or find "lodging" with locals.
It's a huge event in the state and there seems to be no slowing down for it.
What I love about it is that anyone can do it - from the young to the old.
And I kinda, really wanna do it.
So come November, I'm going to apply for the RAGBRAI lottery and hope to win a wristband for the 2015 ride. I also might be able to hook up with a team (a MUCH better option) and score a slot that way.
I've lived in Iowa for 19 years. It's time to do RAGBRAI!
I've included a few more photos just for fun. :-)
Heading out in the morning.
Oh and the occasional hot guy in spandex. :-)
This is just a cool photo.
Ending the ride by dipping front tires in the Mississippi.
I've had a bit of writer's block over the past few weeks and I'm determined to break out of my slump.
Last weekend, Matt and I spent the 4th of July weekend in Las Vegas.
Enjoy!
Matt's birthday is July 5th. This year to celebrate we traveled to Las Vegas.
Under normal circumstances, Las Vegas in the summer and it's 100+ temps, would not be our first choice of vacation spots.
This was a special occasion, on the 5th we had the opportunity to see Olivia Newton-John in concert at the Flamingo Hotel.
Let me say for the record.....
THE SHOW WAS AMAZING!
Olivia is in residence at the "Donny & Marie Theater" at the Flamingo. It has a very Rat-Packy kinda vibe to it, and we loved it. It's a very intimate setting and for Olivia, it is a perfect concert venue.
The crowd skewed in one of two ways - older, or gay. We kinda fell into both categories... lol.
There's something to be said for the stereotype that gays have a lot of disposable income, because the gays showed up in force and paid the big bucks for the "Meet and Greet" tickets ($249 each!).
We're frugal gays, the $99 seats were fine for us. :-)
The show felt like Olivia had invited 400 of her closest friends for an intimate concert. She looked and sounded amazing. Her voice is just as clear as it was when she began her career back in the early 70s.
We had smiles on our faces for the entire show. She sang selections from throughout her career. From "Have You Never Been Mellow" through her "Xanadu" days and then into the 80s. I was thrilled that she performed "Suddenly", a duet with Cliff Richards from "Xanadu".
I loved that she began performing a stripped down version of "Physical" and then stopped, "asked" the audience if they'd rather hear the original (DUH!) and then got down.
Another highlight was the "Grease" sing-a-long. The words to the songs were put up on video screens for the crowd to follow along with, but seriously, they weren't needed.
Before we knew it, Olivia was finishing up her show. :(
But overall we had a wonderful time and if you have the means and the opportunity, we HIGHLY recommend that you go!
My one tiny gripe was I had wished the gay in the front row wouldn't have kept yelling "WE LOVE YOU OLIVIA" after EVERY song. Dude, we got it, you love her.
Following the show we had Matt's birthday dinner at Serendipity3 at Caesar's Palace. The food is delicious, but what you really go there for is the dessert.
Last November we fell in love with their Frrrozen Hot Chocolate. It's made from 23 different types of cocoa and is absolutely delicious.
From the first sip, it truly lives up to the hype.
Alright, it's time for me to get some sleep. I'll finish up my trip recap tomorrow. But I'll leave you with a little Olivia.
