With school right around the corner, it was time for the annual family summer vacation. I know it's hard to imagine last years trip being outdone, but this year we ventured a little further than usual and visited the majestic Smoky Mountains and picturesque Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

I'll just come out and say it: I like Taco Bell. Glad to clear the air. So all you haters can just step aside.

To call myself a "Trekkie" wouldn't be totally accurate. I've always enjoyed The Original Series, moreso "The Next Generation." I never got much into "Deep Space Nine" or "Voyager" and have seen only a single episode of "Enterprise." But I've always enjoyed the movies (even the odd numbered ones), so I was pretty excited when I heard they were rebooting the whole shebang.

No kidding. This was probably 1993. We were at Deer Creek (they've changed the name since then) which, being an amphitheater, has rows that curve around all the way to the side of the stage. So, during one of the numbers, Jon goes to the side where, naturally, everyone rushes, and he did that low five/hand shake thingy rock stars do when fans manage to get close enough. And me, I was able to shake his hand.

I saw a bird poop today. Okay, not terribly exciting, but usually all you get to see is the results (mostly likely on your car) and maybe you'll see it drop from the sky (and hope it's not over your car or, worse, you). But today I watched a bird in a tree as he flexed his little birdy butt muscles for what seemed like five minutes until — squirt! — he pooped.

I've introduced Zoe before, our Jack Russell terrier. What I never got around to doing is posting any photos of Lucy, our other Jack Russell. Zoe turns four this year, but Lucy's pushing six months, so very much still a puppy. For the most part, Zoe tolerates Lucy, but I use the term loosely. Most of the time, Zoe can't be bothered.

Isn't it amazing how something as simple as a song can take you back many, many years? Even if you haven't heard it in forever, it never fails to evoke memories for times gone by. That happened to me twice today.

We just got back from a few days in Louisville. One of the highlights for us of any trip to a new city is the flea markets and antique shops. This tag was attached to a Buddha figurine. I don't know much about Buddhism, but fragil must be some sort of special form of enlightenment. Maybe its like Scientology. But I hope not.

A recent study has discovered that online blogging is no longer a young man's game. You know, just in case there was any doubt left that prose is a dying art.

I've been sick for the past several days, with the congestion, sore throat, coughing and headache. I thought I'd ride it out, but I missed two days work and wasn't feeling any better. This afternoon I finally decided to go to the clinic, where I was diagnosed — to no big surprise — with a sinus infection. Yea, more pills to take!