Steel Kaleidoscopes

Nostalgia

Losing your dad brings on a wave of nostalgia for which I was not prepared.

Since the memorial events took place in and around the playground of my youth, I found a need to drive the old familiar streets, peering through the windows of an innocent time that can never be recaptured.

I drove by my old house, the one I spent years 5 through 17 in. Those were precious times. It looked the same, a little older, a little smaller than I had remembered. The yard looked cluttered. I felt compelled to clear the twigs and rake the leaves in the front, something I always did for dad.

I drove by my elementary school, looking at the field of grass where I learned how to swing a bat and throw a baseball. The school looked almost exactly the same, except for the addition of a chain-link fence.

I drove by the old swimming hole, where we spent endless summer days swinging on a rope and releasing our prepubescent bodies into the muddy creek.

I drove by my junior high school, where I survived those turbulent years of 13 through 15.

I ordered a few slices of pizza in the place where my brother and I hung out on Friday nights when my parents went out to dinner. The name has changed but the tiny tables and dingy floor looked the same.

Our hotel room looked out over the old Caldor, where I worked in the hardware department at one of my first jobs. It's no longer a Caldor, but the parking lot is the same. I could see myself pulling up in dad's '70 Chevy station wagon, feeling the pride and independence of carrying a driver's permit.

I drove by the hill where we froze the tips of our fingers and toes, sleigh riding, anticipating the coming of Christmas Eve, when my family would sit around the Christmas tree and open presents.

Everything seemed smaller. And everything seemed untouchable.

The '60s and '70s were such a special time, yet those days are so long ago, so removed.

And my dad played such a key part in all of this.

You really can't go home again.

It's healthy.

But when you lose your dad, the nostalgia sweeps in like a wave.

It's unexpected.

And kind of sad.

Oconomowoc

One of our beloved classic movies premiered in a somewhat obscure city in the midwest before opening in the major markets.

On Aug. 12, 1939, "The Wizard of Oz" premiered at the Strand Theatre in Oconomowoc, Wis.  A few days later it was shown at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollowood followed by Loew's Capitol Theater in New York.

The movie opened nationally on Aug. 25, but it was those few lucky people in tiny Oconomowoc who first laid their eyes on Dorothy, Toto, the Tin Man, the Lion and the Scarecrow.

For Oconomowoc residents, there's no place like home.

Thanks, Dad

Thanks, dad, for your generosity and support.

For sharing your love of music.

For showing what a real relationship looks like.

For being there.

For being a friend.

We will miss you.

Quote of the Day

"The human heart feels things the eyes cannot see, and knows what the mind cannot understand."

— Anonymous

American Idol: Birth Years

Neat concept. With the exception of a few, it was '80s night again. And was Paula ready to lift some weights? What was up with those gloves? Here's the order of how the 10 finalists performed last night, with the odds of winning it all in May:

1. David Cook
Could he benefit from an America makeup call for letting Chris Daughtry finish fourth? Rocker takes a huge risk with uber-alternate version of "Billie Jean" and delivers memorable performance. Without the lyrics, song is unrecognizable but it works.
Odds of winning: 10-1

2. Syesha Mercado
Perhaps the most polished vocal of the night. Wasn't crazy about the song choice (Stephanie Mills' "If I Were Your Woman") as this genre of songs is so played on AI. Very professional and pristine. One of the best here.
Odds of winning: 10-1

3. Carly Smithson (bottom 3)
Why are the judges beating her up? Clearly, Randy and Simon want her out. Belts out "Total Eclipse of the Heart" with powerful vocal. Sings it smooth, a contrast from Bonnie Tyler's classic version. Notice how Carly's mom looks younger than Carly?
Odds of winning: 25-1

4. Kristy Lee Cook
Smart song choice with Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA." Who's going to vote off someone singing about America? Thought this was her best performance to date and she's looking good. AI's fashion police are in full swing.
Odds of winning: 25-1

5. Brooke White
The girl next door recovers after a start and stop, something you don't usually see. Reverts back to the ivory with a smooth vocal of "Every Breath You Take." Plays it safe, but the low-key approach works for her. Pleasing voice.
Odds of winning: 25-1

6. David Archuleta
A bit worried that this kid is a one-trick pony. When he sings slow, introspective songs, he's untouchable. When he picks a song that's up-tempo (John Farnham's "You're the Voice") he comes across like a Disney singer. Stay mellow, dude.
Odds of winning: 8-1

7. Michael Johns
Queen's his thing. His two best performances have been "Bohemian Rhapsody" and last night's "We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions." Not the best song choice to showcase your vocals, but gets loudest ovation from crowd. Not good enough.
Odds of winning: 25-1

8. Chikezie (bottom 3)
Takes a page out of Ruben Studdard's playbook with Luther Vandross' "If Only For One Night." Pretty good vocal, but shows nothing new. He does have a nice range, but there's a wavering unevenness that will catch up to him.
Odds of winning: 30-1

9. Jason Castro
Plying for votes by talking about his eyes. OK, we get it. You're cute. But can you sing with the best of these? Sorry. Uninspiring, droning version of Sting's "Fragile" does nothing to propel him further. Linear and forgettable.
Odds of winning: 40-1

10. Ramiele Malubay (bye, bye)
It really is time for her to go. Listen to Carrie Underwood's version of "Alone" in Season 4 and there's absolutely no comparison. Cute kid, but vocally out of her league. This is her opportunity to show something and she comes up flat.
Odds of winning: 40-1

Sunset

Another day ends, the sun slowly setting over the gulf.

Hardly Prime Time

Talk about an odd sports schedule for the start of the work week.

Down in Miami at Doral this morning, the PGA Tour extends the drama due to the weekend rain.

And tomorrow, it's opening Day for Major League Baseball when the Red Sox and A's take the field in Japan at 6:05 a.m.

Meanwhile, we're at our desks or doing whatever we do on a Monday and Tuesday morning.

Seems upside down.

Quote of the Day

"Every day you spend without a smile is a lost day."

— Anonymous

Historic Birthday

The peace sign turned 50 yesterday.

The symbol was first used on an anti-nuclear weapons march in the U.K. on Good Friday in 1958.

Sleeping Positions

Something to think about when you're trying to get to sleep:

If you sleep on your back, you're likely to be:

• creative
• submissive
• introspective
• courteous

If you sleep on your stomach, it's clear that you're:

• aggressive
• proactive
• wired
• opinionated

If you sleep on your left side, you're likely to be:

• tentative
• indecisive
• loyal
• adaptable

If you sleep on your right side, it's clear that you're:

• enthusiastic
• competitive
• dedicated
• adventurous

And if you rotate between the four positions, you simply drink too much damn coffee.