The Beatles

Oldest son spotted this bug in the yard. He tells me it's from the order coleoptera; a beetle in the vernacular. Not a bad guess, as beetles represent 40% of all insects and are the largest order in the animal kindom according to bug-guide. Still, I couldn't find the particular monniker for this little guy. Unless someone tells me different, I'm calling him a "Davis-beetle". We videoed him, too:
Well if that beetle doesn't suit you, maybe these will:

I 'taut I taw a Puddy Cat.

Watcha lookin' at Kenny?

Gator Country

My old high school chums, Phil and Kenny, stopped by the Boro on the way to points beyond. Phil hunts alligators for a living, and sells gator-related gear. I was a little surprised that the official vehicle for this manly pursuit is, um, a mini-van. Phil offered that he'd gotten a really good deal on it. Phil is a thrifty fellow, you see. Manly, but thrifty. They got all types in Gator Country.

Them's Eats.

Though it's been pretty hot in the Boro, a couple of late afternoons last week were downright pleasant. Pleasant enough, in fact, for deck dining. And what a meal it was: roasted red potatoes, fresh summer squash with red onions, a glass of red wine and, buried under the very fine plant material was a well-crafted ribeye steak. Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

Roadtrip: Charleston

Caroline, her friend, Felicia, and I were all set to travel to Tampa to see Aerosmith and ZZ Top when I got a call last night from AndyMan, and an internet heads-up from Jersey Girl, that Steven Tyler had an undisclosed illness that caused the show to be rescheduled, probably until October. Good thing we opted for a Saturday morning departure instead of the original Friday night plan. Felicia had come down from Charlotte to go with us to Tampa, and Caroline was due some sort of escapade. Well, people come from all over to see the Holy City, Charleston. Market street- where slaves were once bought and sold- is now right in the thick of the tourist district. Maybe we can do a little local touring. On another trip I'll get some pics of the historic buildings. Right now, food and shopping seemed in order.

We went shopping. Well, a little, anyway. Ultimately, Caroline bought only one item: a top from Abercrombie and Fitch that will make it's appearance later in the post.

Caroline and Felicia await French Fries.

Caroline, in her new top, and Felicia outside of Charleston dessert mecca, Kaminski's.

This is why we go to Kaminski's.

Aerosmith

I'm taking my baby girl to Tampa this weekend to see Aerosmith and ZZ Top. We'll stay Saturday night with my brother, the Amazing AndyMan. Got to say I'm jazzed (or, perhaps rocked). Though I liked- and still like- Dream On, my first Aerosmith album was Toys in the Attic. I was maybe a year older than the Twins are now when I got it, and several years younger than my daughter is now. She's taking a girl with whom she's been friends for the majority of their lives. They used to listen to then-current Aerosmith when they were in first grade. I'll post pictures when I get back.

General B.S.(A)

Scrounging through my closet this morning I found my old Cub Scout Leader shirt. Oldest wanted to be in Cub Scouts many moons ago, but the existing den was full, so another parent and I started a new one. Least, that's how I remember it. The atomization of the single family unit rendered any desire for the Twins to participate in Mr. Baden-Powell's crew unreachable. 'Course, the Twins never showed any interest in Scouting. Maybe they knew that Dwight Hansen- the mean step-dad played by Robert DeNiro in This Boy's Life- was also a Scout Leader. He knew a thing or two about Scouting.