Ali and I started our vacation last Friday. We flew into Atlanta and spent the night with Gabe. It was nice to see them again -- For the last couple of years I have been going to Atlanta for Super Comm and staying with them. This year Super Comm was being held and Chicago so I didn't think I would see them this year. I'm glad it worked out that we got to see them after all; even if it was only for a short while. The next morning we met Jeromy and Mandy at Six Flags and had a lot of fun doing all the things you do at a place like that. We went to Matas for lunch on Monday, and then up to Cheeha to fly kites.

On Tuesday I drove my grandmother to Nashville to see Simon and Garfunkel. She is a big fan (like myself), and when I saw they were going to be relatively close (4 hours away) I knew this was something I had to do. I was able to get tickets for the second row. She loved it -- so did I -- I think this was the best show of the three I've been to see.

We didn't get home until three in the morning, so I used Wednesday and a day to recooperate -- kinda. My brother moved my Opel out of the garage it was being kept in a couple of years ago, and I have wanted to get it back into the garage. So Ali, Grandma, and I went to the shop to see what it would take to get it put up. We worked for about three hours clearing the jungle away, and cleaning the stall up in the shop in order to be able to move the car. My brother came by after work and helped me push it into its rightful place. I hope to some day restore the car, but until then I would prefer that it did not rust apart. We went to my cousin's house for dinner that evening. They served fish (and chicken for me), and we had watermelon.

Today Ali and I went to the Waffle House for breakfast. I skipped lunch because we were going to see Shrek 2 in the afternoon and I wanted to get popcorn. We then went to Matas for dinner. I'm hoping to make it to Matas one more time before we leave.

I kept telling Ali I was going to take her to places like Tannehill, Ave Maria Grotto, et. al. on this trip. So far the only thing I have delivered on this trip is Six Flags (which she wasn't in to), flying kites at Cheeha, and Matas. I guess we'll have to do the others some other time. My grandmother was also telling me of a historic iron works site in Ohatchee, which sounds like it would be interesting to see.

We have been having a great time so far, I wish we had more time. We are flying back to New York on Saturday. Then I have to leave for Evansville early Monday. It is a good thing the 4th of July is coming up so that I will have a few days to rest.

View the photo album for this trip.

I've been noticing this for a while, but hadn't really put a label on it. I can't say for sure when it started, but I think it was in the past ten years. Society has gotten progressively later. My mother, like David was always running late, so I always made it a point to be on time for things. I find it annoying when people are late.

I've started noticing a general trend in that nothing ever starts on time. Of course there is the obligatory Doctor visit; they are always going to be late. But take movies for instance, they used to start precisely at the listing time. Now you are lucky if the previews start at the listing time. When we went to the concert last week same thing; it was supposed to start at 8pm, but didn't get underway until 8:20.

I don't know what is causing this gradual decline in punctuality, but I find it particularly annoying. Especially so since my wife is "type a" and even more concerned with being on time than I am; the difference is I like to get there on time; she likes to get there early. Now with things starting later, in order for me to enjoy the event (read: without her worrying about being late) it means I have to sit around for an extra long time. I am terse and efficient and it flies in the face of my general personality to have to endure this downtime, when I could have been using it for something worth while. So thanks mom, thanks David, I'm sure somehow you guys have contributed to this semi-global punctuality problem and condemned the rest of us to an inefficient usage of our time; all because y'all can't keep to a schedule. It is like the media et. al. dumbing things down so that "everyone" can understand what they are talking about, only with time so that "no-one" will be late. Arghhhh!

The concert was great as expected. We were 10 rows from the stage! The concert opens with America playing (a recording) and they have a large screen where they play images from their childhood through growing up and then on to some political events the walk on Selma, Iran Contra, and so on. When this finishes the lights come up and Simon and Garfunkel are on stage. Simon started by dedicated the concert to Ray Charles who passed away that day. They then launched into Old Friends / Bookends theme, just the two of them. When that finished the whole band came on stage and they launched into A Hazy Shade of Winter. (The whole set list is included at the bottom of the entry).

Ali found out last week that Simon & Garfunkel are playing at the Pepsi Arena in Albany tomorrow night (6/10). We were able to get 11 row floor tickets. I can't wait! We saw them back in December; all I can say is WOW.

If any of you get the chance it is very much worth it.

Ali and I went hiking at Bellearye yesterday. We went up Dot Nebel which is a black diamond ski trail. There is only one section that is particularly steep so it wasn't too bad a climb. As we were wondering around the mountain we came across a patch of snow that hasn't melted yet. It was probably 50 feet long and 30 feet wide.

Not much else going on, I hope all of you are doing well.