Happy 234th Birthday, America!

May you have many, many more to come. And may God shed His grace on thee...

Today is Towel Day

Don't panic if you forgot!

Happy Easter!

Easter is coming...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

It's a good day to wear green if you're going to celebrate the most recognized Irish saint. Or you could opt to wear orange.

Happy New Year!

And here we are in 2010! Well, those of us on Central Standard Time, at any rate. Most of the world has been in this new decade for hours already. But here in Vermilion County, Illinois, we've just watched the ball drop (an hour delay) at Times Square in NYC. Yes, we watched Dick Clark here at Chez Brownie, because there really is no one else to watch. I mean, Carson Daly? You were great on TRL, but you're no Dick Clark. The Sweet One and The Cute One both stayed up to ring in the new year/decade, but The Wife had gone to bed.

And now, I'm shuddering with a single thought... Next year, I turn 40. Four-oh! Oh, man, now I need to go get a blanket.

Be careful about where you attend to personal issues

Remember Balloonboy

(HT: BHT)

Memorial Day Weekend Movies

Like most patriotic Americans on Memorial Day weekend, I usually spend a good bit of time watching movies. On the big screen in the community cineplex. On the small screen in my bedroom. From Blockbuster for $3.99 (for a whole week), or a nearby Redbox for $1 (for one night). Doesn't matter. At some point or another, I'll watch one movie - or two or three - from beginning to end.

I've seen two so far.

Saturday night's film was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, rented from the Redbox. Button was filmed in such a gorgeous manner, with such a beautiful city (New Orleans) and such striking actors (Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Julia Ormond, and Tariji Henson), that I was completely taken aback by how utterly boring I found it. Pitt and Blanchett seemed to have no chemistry together. Should I not have expected more from them? Pitt and Henson were nominated for Oscars, but I didn't find their performances to be particularly moving. I found the most striking character to be the tugboat captain Benjamin worked for, and I mourned his passing because he was the only character who seemed full of life and vitality.

When Blanchett's Daisy tells Pitt's Benjamin that he is "perfect," I almost expected him to say, "Well, of course I am - I'm Brat Pitt!"

Last night's film was Night at the Museum, shown on the ABC Family channel. I was charmed by the film when I first saw it a few years ago, and it still has its pleasures. I think it'd be great fun to have an Easter Island head around the house, but I wouldn't let it get away with calling my "dum-dum." I particularly enjoyed seeing Dick Van Dyke (a Vermilion County native!) and Mickey Rooney as two of the "bad guys" of the film. Has there been another film where Van Dyke has been the villain? Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't think there is.

April Fool's Day

Have you fooled someone today? Has somebody fooled you?

Huffpo has a brief history of April Fool's Day, along with fix recent hoaxes. I remember the "Taco Liberty Bell" announcements.

Happy Pi Day

It's today, you know. Feel free to celebrate however you'd like. Working geometry problems. Eating slices of pie in all different varieties. Naming all the other Greek letters. Whatever strikes your fancy.

Dave Barry's Gifts

This list may give you some ideas for those hard-to-buy family members and friends. I'm thinking of getting #11 for my new house.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lord, for both what we have received and what we will receive, may we be truly thankful.

Are you preparing the bird?

My mother-in-law is making our bird ready. It's a 21-pounder.

A Cubbies Christmas Wreath

The Brownie Family attended the Festival of Trees in Danville yesterday. The Palmer Arena was filled with Christmas trees and wreaths, decorated by local schoolchildren and different organizations. I'm not a Cubs fan, but I thought this wreath was particularly well done:

Reformation Day Symposium

Tim Challies has it covered.

Yes We Carve

What will your pumpkins look like at the end of the month? Perhaps this place can give you some good ideas. Or you could check out here.

Shiver me timbers!

It's that time of year again...

Westville Labor Day Parade 2008

Just like last year, The Wife and I took the kids to the Labor Day parade in downtown Westville, Illinois. Even though it was 94 degrees and we forgot to bring lounge chairs, we still had an enjoyable time.

We couldn't believe all the celebrities we saw, like the Fazoli's Tomato:

And this famous captain:

he was only off by two days

So he got the date wrong. Give him a break. He's John Adams, for crying out loud.

He wrote the following in a letter to his wife Abigail, on July 3, 1776:

The second day of July, 1776, will be memorable epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations, as the great Anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp, shews, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward forever.

Happy birthday, America. And, happy birthday to me, too.