Jurassic adventures...

There is this place in Northwest Arkansas called Dinosaur World. It's kind of like a concrete version of Jurassic Park. Except a concrete King Kong also resides there. And cavemen.


There's no real rhyme or reason to the park. It's a paleontological nightmare in reality. I mean, KING KONG lives among the dinosaurs. As do CAVEMEN. And a giant platypus.

But it's an awesome place in the world of super cheese. And I'm a huge fan of super cheese. Here's a blog that has some pics of Dinosaur World while it was still in its glory days: http://secretfunspot.blogspot.com/2008/03/abandoned-dinosaur-world.html

I noticed a nearby gravel pull-off which seemed as though it were created solely for illegal Dinosaur World entry. In the name of blogging I stopped the car, walked down an embankment and and briefly set foot in the forbidden lost world where I took these last couple of photos.

(boy that sounds vaguely familiar...)

And here's another post that contains some really good shots of the cheesefest:

http://www.agilitynut.com/dinos/ar2.html

Now that Dinosaur World is closed, I think we are truly missing out on one of life's greatest treasures. I'm thinking I should purchase this property, and turn it into a campground. "Your site is located in the Mastadon section. If you prefer, there will be a primo Pterodactyl spot available tomorrow." And I want an awesome restaurant and bar when we offer "Jurassic Park" type tours of the compound. C'mon...you know you wanna go...

Down time

Down time is something that seems to be in short supply in most people's lives. I'm not just talking about a day off, but rather a day off where you don't have to do homework, clean out the garage, run errands that take all day, give the dog a bath or reorganize your closet.

I'm talking about a day off where you don't have to do anything but whatever you really, really want to do. Kind of like a day when you stay home from school sick, but about an hour after the first bell would have rung, you feel completely well again.

What would you spend your time doing on a day like that? And what if, like today's weather where I live, it was icky and rainy outside? For me, it's a combination of things - old movies, good books and Wii.

What about you? What would you do with some real down time?

What Do You Like To Do?

"What do you want to do tomorrow?" That's what Ahmed asked me on the phone this morning and I had to really think. Because I have a few favorite things to do, but when he comes home after being gone a whole week I always want to do something very special. Somehow, though... we end up doing the same thing all the time. Most people who know me will predict it: hang out in a cafe and read, drink great coffee, eat yummy scones, then go home and have a nice dinner just-us-two. I know it's predictable but it really does make me happy.

Of course, I like other stuff, too. When the brand new House of Blues opened in Boston we signed on as charter members and there are some shows we never miss. Poor Ahmed probably signed on for the VIP package just so he'd have access to the private lounge as an escape. Get the Dropkick Murphys going and I go completely batty on the floor. He even suffered through J Geils and learned to like them! HOB is another stand-by that always makes me happy. Great music, cool people, incredible wings. And my obnoxious cousin Jim is almost always there. (Hey Jimmo!!)

Of course... the season isn't open yet, but perhaps my happiest of happy places is across the street from the House of Blues. The Cathedral. The Holy of Holies. Fenway Park. Give me a warm day, a sky-box, bleachers, pretty much any darn seat in the house. I'm there. Fenway Frank, root-beer (ok, maybe one Sammy), and my peeps. Screaming obscenities at umpires and Yankees... really, it should be its own sport in the Olympics. *sigh*

But if the weather is good... and sometimes even when it isn't... there's a single, fool-proof stand-by. For as long as I can remember I've loved sitting with a few good friends on the beach. I grew up on the beach; regressed on the beach; figured out my life on the beach; lost loves on the beach; found them again on the beach; and some of the best and longest belly laughs have rolled on for hours there on the beach.

So where is your happy place?