RobZerrvations
Musings from a Meandering, Mischievous Mind
Sorry, We’re Fresh Out Of Heroes.
I realized a few days ago that I had run out of heroes. I knew I was running low, given the fact that the last batch of heroes I had were the bold adventurers back in the space race. You know, those guys who strapped themselves onto a rocket that was just as likely to blow up on the pad as it was to make it to orbit. I had other heroes, too. I really respected those guys who traipsed off into the jungles and swamps of Vietnam at the behest of the government, knowing that there was a very good...
You’re A Pill. Now Look Like One.
When I was a kid, my Aunt Linna always would say to me, "You're a Pill." I never understood what she was saying. Of course, I never understood why she would spend hours laboring over a puzzle either whenever she visited our house. But as we get older, more and more of us are becoming pills. Pills for indigestion, pills to calm us down, pills to reduce the pain... even pills to keep us alive a couple days longer. Perhaps my aunt was right. I know some people who are popping more pills now than...
Ride ‘Em Cowboy.
They say that history repeats itself. I know this to be absolutely true for I have experienced it myself on more than one occasion, which come to think of it, would be necessary for the "repeat" portion of this old saw. I'm not full of "man moments," you know, those times a guy is so full of testosterone that his brain (the one in the upper head) temporarily checks out. But I certainly had a "man moment" when I was 14. Our family had a go-cart and my father being the deal maker that he was,...
It Took Two Men To Get Us Here.
My brain always seems to be going somewhere. Often it's a dead end. But last night, as I dined on the deck, the thought struck me that the only reason I'm still not dwelling in a cave is because of two men. Not two specific men, mind you. Just two men. For I have decided that all major progress in this civilization is because of two men who had gotten together and made history. Now, I know my women friends are boiling over right now, fomenting with anger because women have contributed a lot to...
Am I The Only One On Earth?
I don't know about you, but I can't wait until May 20. That, my friends, as you all seem to know, is the day the newest installment of Pirates of the Caribbean makes its way to the big screen. Finally, perhaps, the world will go back to normal and I won't continually be bombarded with POTC4 promotions. For weeks now, I have seen virtually nothing else on Facebook or Twitter except movie trailers, Lego send parodies, movie stills, early reviews and countdowns for the movie. I don't really care....
Sailing The Bounding Main.
I have a great view of the world. Not in a political or all-knowing sense, mind you. It's the advantage of living on the 8th floor. This morning I was watching the guy in the park next door cleaning his sailboat. He hasn't sailed it yet, as far as I can tell. But he was at least doing some much needed maintenance on it. It reminded me of my seafaring years. It's been a few years since I've seafared. But the call to take to the water still gets in my head now and again. Coming from Seattle,...
Are You On My List?
I have a list. I'm sure I'm on other people's lists as well. But more than likely not the one I'm talking about. I think The List started about 17 years ago. It was one of my ex-whatever's ideas. She casually mentioned it one day. Some actor, and the passage of time has caused his name to escape me, was in a movie we were watching. Without notice, she blurted out, He's on my List. "What do you mean, he's on your List?" And then she explained it to me. The List is a roster of people who, if...
Superman Never Eats.
Back from my recent soiree as a pirate entertainer, I was asked why I rarely if ever eat while I'm in costume. Sure, I'll nibble on something now and then, but rarely will I pack in the groceries, even though I may be starving at the time. I replied, quite simply, "Because Superman never eats when he's wearing the cape." If you think about it, this is true. Did you ever see Superman sit down at the diner when he was in costume? Of course not. Sure, Clark Kent would grab a bite to eat with Lois...
Stickin’ It To The Arts.
I am one of the lucky people in this world who benefitted from an education that was rich in art, music, creativity and writing. I am also discovering that I am becoming a rarity in our world, due to the short-sighted pencil pushers out there who think sports and math should be saved in our schools and in our country and that arts are just a luxury. I first noticed this new mind-set a few years ago. It has since made its way into Congress which wants to cut funding to the National Endowment of...
Caught Up In The Employee Draft.
I was watching the NFL Draft over the weekend. Outside of the fact that it is ponderously boring to watch and every player drafted gets a #1 jersey with their name on it, I think it has some wonderful potential. For a college player, it's a dream come true. Even if you are the worst player drafted, make a team and sit on the bench for the rest of your life, you make $310,000 a year, starting salary. Imagine that. You could end up being a third string quarterback, never take a down in a game,...
Where Have All The Hippies, Gone.
The death of Bin Laden was a ying and yang thing for me. Of course, I was happy that we finally got him. I care not whether he went down in a blaze of gunfire or was captured and buried alive with a feeding tube in the new towers being built. What saddened me most was the reaction of a segment of our society that seems to be totally consumed by hatred these days for anything that flies in the face of their own very limited belief system. People who seem to hate so much that they have closed...
One Nation, Under God, Invisible With Liberty.
Living out in the outer reaches of civilization here in Fort Pierce reminds me of the heady days when I lived in Port Orchard, Washington, a small hamlet of just 7,000 citizens across from Seattle but a world away in terms of customs. It reminded me of Mayberry, right down to the community events where everyone, every time stood up and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Before moving to Port Orchard, I had last recited the Pledge in elementary school. I hear they don't do that any longer, but...