Out of My Head

     As a kid I was fascinated with science fiction and loved those old black and white movies on television that played on Saturday afternoons. The flying saucers and ray guns captured my imagination yet made me a little uneasy thinking "what if?"  But the uneasiness (is that a word?) was replaced with excitement and anticipation as I watched my favorite cartoon, the Jetsons, each week. The flying cars and moving sidewalks were cool but didn't begin to compare with George Jetson's jet pack that allowed him to fly anywhere he wanted. I dreamed of being able to fly, and had even tried many times unsuccessfully in my Superman costume. But a jetpack made sense! The 21st century couldn't come soon enough but seemed so far away. Sometime around the third grade I figured out that when the year 2000 dawned I would be an old man of 42. If jetpacks were a reality in the new millennium, it would be helpful to me since I would probably be having a hard time getting a

During the past year I have marked a few things off my bucket list.  But there are still several things left.  While these may seem unusual and random to others, they are perfectly normal in my mind. My remaining bucket list items: 1.  Attend an NCAA final four. 2.  Attend the College World Series. 3.  Learn to tap dance. 4.  Hold a monkey. 5.  Go to the Caribbean. 6.  Explore the underground tunnels beneath Walt Disney World. 7.  Attend a Sugar Bowl game. 8.  Attend a College Football Championship game. 9.  See the Amazon and the rainforest. 10. Fly using a jetpack. 11. Play with a penguin. 12. Attend a worship service at the Brooklyn Tabernacle. 13. Kick a field goal. 14. Write a book. 15. Pet an otter. 16. Spend the night in the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. 17. Win big at a slot machine (although I've never played one and because of my position most likely never will) 18.  Be a zookeeper or a dolphin trainer for a day. 19. See a footba