I'm thinking about her. The girl down the street that I grew up with. I have been thinking about her since I heard that song earlier tonight. "Big Boys Don't Cry"(I'm Not In Love) by 10CC. It was a song that was big in the 1970s. The time I was growing up in the suburbs west of Cleveland. The days of listening to WMMS 101FM, faded jeans, and smoking marijuana.

And whenever that song came on, I would always think of her. Especially when I would look at her picture upon the wall. And it did hide a nasty stain that was lying there. And she never did ask me to give it back. Although I do not know what happened to it, I wish I had it now. Hanging upon the wall, minus the nasty stain.

Just because.

I was going to post a joke I received in my e-mail, but I cannot find the copy of the joke I had printed. Oh well.

I just finished watching some pre-season football. Locally, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers played the New England Patriots, and the Buffalo Bills played the New Orleans Saints in a nationally televised game. I enjoy watching the pre-season games because you get to see the players trying to make the team, as well as all the big contract first round picks from the NFL draft. Granted, some of the play is sloppy, but some of the plays are great to watch.

Which leads me to write about the pre-season. After the game, the news came on. After the news comes the weather. And it is going to be hot again. After the weather comes the sports. And the sports caster is some radio/television major with good looks and most likely never participated in sports, trying to come off like some comedian. As I am watching the sports report, the sports caster goes into the story about the Tampa Bay-New England game and proceeds to talk about how these games do not mean anything. That the games are a waste of time, and nobody wants to watch a bunch of players they never heard of.

I am really tired about how people complain about pre-season football. Especially these sports casters who never played the game.

"Here. Put this football helmet on. And don't worry about messing up your $200 haircut. Go out for a pass. And don't worry. It won't mess up your manicure."

I don't know if these sports casters are aware of it, but many of these players are not in shape after the off season. Training camp is for conditioning players to get into playing shape. Many of the players are new and are learning a new system installed by the coach. And if the coach is new, the whole team is learning a new system.

Yeah, there is the argument that most of these players with the big contracts know what they are doing, but you have many rookies trying to make the team. And as a coach, you and your coaching staff want to get a good look at the players you think will help your team. And you want to have your best players in their best shape come the opening day of the season.

So these sports casters go on about how the pre-season is too long, and how they never heard of any of these players, with the exception of the first string. I think the real football fan enjoys the pre-season because the real season is around the corner. But in the time being, I want to see the fourth string quarterback trying to make the best of it. This player is trying to do the best he can, so how about showing him some respect while he is getting his fifteen minutes of fame. And who knows, that quarterback could someday be a starter.

How do you think the Pittsburgh Steelers felt about the quarterback they waived playing for the Baltimore Colts? And in case you are wondering, that was Johnny Unitas.

So maybe some of the players are not household names. But you never know how these players are going to do. They may not make the team, but that doesn't mean that they will not end up somewhere else. Just ask Curt Warner about that one.

"The pre-season games don't count!"

No, but the pre-season is a lot of fun. So in the meantime, have some fun and cheer on these guys who are trying to make the team.

Now if you excuse me, I am going to put on this helmet and knock the living daylights out of prettyboysportscaster while he catches this pass.

It is Sunday evening, and I just got home from work. So I am staying inside with a cold root beer while I check out my e-mail. It was another hot day today, with a high of 96 degrees. The temperatures are suppose to stay on the hot side throughout the week.

I am sorry about my blog from last night. I wanted to start writing, and my mind went blank. I had put in a twelve hour day, and most of that day, like today, was outside in the heat. Have you ever heard of the term "brain freeze"? I think while I was at work, I must have suffered from "brain melt". Brain melt is the result of being outside in the heat for long periods of time.

Talk to someone who has suffered from brain melt, and usually they have a blank stare. And anything that that you say to them will be followed with the same response, "Duh?".

Somewhere inside the theme park, there is some poor guy from maintenance having to clean up a puddle of brain melt.

I see it all the time. And usually, it is the park guests that suffer from brain melt. And I'm the guy who has to deal with them. It is over 90 degrees, and the park guests start asking you stupid questions.When I get brain melt, I usually start to lose my concentration. Especially after getting asked stupid questions.

But when you see someone holding a map upside down while their two year-old is screaming and crying, you have to feel bad for them. Brain melt to the second power.Especially when you ask them if you could be of help, and their response is "Duh?"

Now you know why they recommend that you drink a lot of water while you are outside.

"STAY HYDRATED! PREVENT BRAIN MELT!"

Anyway, while I walk around the park, I see people wearing some great t-shirts. Among the examples:

FIGHT ME: I'M IRISH!

MIRROR, MIRROR, ON THE WALL, MAKE THEM BEG, MAKE THEM CRAWL!

I'M GRUMPY BECAUSE YOU'RE DOPEY."

Even at the neighborhood center, I see a few good t-shirts that the children from summer camp wear.

I'M JUST HERE FOR THE RECESS!

STICK AROUND. JUST IN CASE I NEED SOMEONE TO BLAME!

I'M BAD. AND YOU LIKE IT!

One day while working at the park, a young lady came up to a cart that I was working at with a t-shirt that read:

ASK ME ABOUT SHOWING YOU MY TATTOO!

Anyway, I offered to show her mine if she showed me hers. Even though I don't have a tattoo. Let's just say that she was rather , but had a great in the meantime.

Well, I think that my brain has fully returned back to its solid state. I have a few things to do, and I have to get ready for another week. Take care, and I'll get with you all later.

Stay cool.

It's another Saturday night, and I'm staying in and enjoying the air conditioning. The high today in Orlando was 96 degrees. And that is the projected high temperature for tomorrow, as well as the rest of the week. And the chance of rain will be 20 percent. That means that it's going to be a hot one next week.

I was thinking about writing something tonight while I was watching television. And I have no idea about what I want to write about. I started off on the weather. I could tell you that it was a hot day at the theme park. And about how we sold a lot of bottled water and ice cream.

Or I could tell you about sitting out on the patio last night and having a cigar while I was sweating my ass off. It's 10:00 p.m., and it is still above 80 degrees. I think I may lay off the cigars for awhile. When I smoke a cigar, I want to be relaxed. Not wiping sweat from my brow.

And since I had my cold, I am thinking about listening to my body a little more, especially when I am tired. And go to bed when I am tired.

I was thinking about maybe writing about the t-shirts that some of the kids from the summer camp are wearing, but I really don't feel about talking about work right now.

It's getting late, and I have to work tomorrow. I had a long day today, and I could use a short day tomorrow. When I have something to write about, I'll write something a little bit more interesting. Have a great Sunday.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

"DON'T DO THAT!"

"KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF!"



I have been hearing those sentences many times this summer.

"WALK!"

"QUIET!"

"STOP!"



I have been hearing those one word sentences, too.

It is Thursday, and after tomorrow, we will have two weeks of summer camp left. Then the children go back to school.

Like I said, the children go back to school.

Anyway, it has been raining today. So the children have been inside.
Too bad we do not have a gymnasium at the neighborhood center. Then the children could at least play basketball or volleyball. Instead, it is either playing games in the gameroom or watch a movie that they have already seen.

As for yours truly, I am starting to feel better. A few fellow employees, however, are coming down with what I have.

Someone made a comment on my blog about whether I had a cold or an allergy, since it is uncommon for colds in the summer. Actually, getting a cold in the summer here in Florida is not all uncommon. Since it is hot, everyone is inside in the air conditioning. Like the north in winter time, everyone is inside to keep warm. So when everyone is inside interacting, you are more likely to get a cold. Especially when people who have a cold are touching light switches, door knobs, etc...

If I have a problem with an allergy, it is usually in late winter when we have a problem with ragweed, pollen, and goldenrod. That is when you see all the cars driving around with a light yellow coating.

Well, it is time for me to go back to work. Lunch is over, and I feel better. And I have more chicken soup waiting for me when I get home. As well as a big pile of laundry.

Take care, and I'll drop in on everyone soon.

"STOP THAT!"

"SIT DOWN PROPERLY!"

"BECAUSE HE HAS ONE AND YOU DON"T!"