This morning I had to walk over to the GA Dome to pick up Jack’s tix for the NCAA dealie.

This is a picture of the escalator that attempted to assassinate me as I carried out my mission.

One might think that 18 years in Anchorage would have taught me how to walk in the aftermath of a snowfall, but there are no outdoor escalators in my former home. It probably doesn’t help that I was walking instead of letting the contraption do all the work for me. In clogs.

Hey, I never said I was bright OR coordinated.

I love the south and how Mother Nature whips it like a red headed step child.

There’s no place like home…there’s no place like home…

I’m almost frightened to think that once it’s all over, I might miss it.

For many months now, I’ve been listening to the construction of a new tower for The Omni Hotel (far right), the destruction and recreation of the street that used to lead under Philips Arena and more (the building on the left is the Georgia World Congress Center).

The near constant beeping of the trucks, the pounding of jackhammers (don’t think I haven’t been tempted to go ask “can I try?”), the rumbling of heavy equipment on unsteady ground, and the yelling of the work crews has been a constant and sometimes frustrating reminder of progress on the other side of the glass.

Now the tower is done, the road has been rebuilt and they’re laying the final touches on the plaza. A picture of progress and what I’m assuming will be a water fountain for my personal enjoyment.

Have you ever been in a situation where you were walking behind someone that was wearing so much cologne/perfume that you thought you might wind up smelling like them? It’s almost as bad as the “I didn’t do it” funk when you get in a stinky elevator. This morning I walked through my parking deck into my building behind a man that smelled so much like the 80’s I’m surprised he didn’t asphyxiate himself during his drive in.

In any case, it was a freaking AWESOME weekend in The A T L. Saturday morning I got up early, washed the Jeep, took the top down and drove to Amicolola Falls. 600+ steps (and a minor pedestrian detour) later I took a the scenic route home down HWY 9 with Van Morrison serenading me all the way.

Sunday was more of the same, with an afternoon spent sitting in a park on the hard earth, soaking in what the sun was pouring down on me. Evening brought a visit to Harry’s followed by the seasonal christening of the grill, a bottle of red wine and a nice hot bath.

Absolutely splendid.

My rating: A+++

“We turned at a dozen paces, for love is a duel, and looked up at each other for the last time.”
~ Jack Kerouac

It took me a few hours longer than I might have liked for me to get outside and feel the 63° air kiss my skin, but I did. And was it glorious. My friends I think we’ve braved the worst of it and spring is just around the corner.

Tonight the Jeep is getting washed and the top is coming down.

This morning I attended a screening of Starsky & Hutch. My review follows.

I don’t remember the original show that well (I’m old but not THAT old) but I remember the car. Maigh likes fast cars.

Let me begin with the subtitle “They Are The Man”. That line alone had me wanting to love the movie. You know how I feel about The Man.

I was mildly entertained by an opening scene that included a Vince Vaughn / Juliette Lewis pairing that brought me back to Old School and lifted my hopes. Several other appearances really got me excited – Will Farrell, Snoop and others. The magic of Old School, however, could not be recreated.

It took me a good 15 minutes to place Justin Bateman, what with the distant shots and lame mustache. Snoop just isn’t an actor, and while the end made me “awwwwwwwwwww” in a sweet/ not booing way…it was completely unnecessary. I will say, however, that I was excited by Patton Oswalts surprise appearance. Damn the seventies were a cruel time for fashion.

This movie may be more enjoyable if you’re with friends or if you’re high…who knows. I’m not sure I’d encourage anyone to pay good money to see it, which is a damn shame, because I really wanted to like it.

Oh, the redeeming value? Additional words for my 70’s vocabulary. Now if I’d only taken notes…