THE MOVIE DUNKIRK

      I went to see this movie Saturday and have been waiting for all summer as there has not been, in my estimation, a really good movie in theaters all summer. It was excellent! One piece of advise before you go is to do a little homework about the event itself. It will help immensely in understanding the whole event clearer.

         It is a guys kind of movie with no love story and actually not even a woman with a major speaking part. And, as a war movie there is tragedy and killing, but, nothing I would call extremely gross! Well worth a look at an important event in history!

HUMAN TAILGATING!

       I know now that I am a little older I don't walk as fast like I did years ago. But, one of my pet peeves is when someone comes up behind me and walks very close and acts like I am going to keep walking forever or maybe I'll just disappear!

        What I have done when this happens is simply STOP. I just let the person run into me or hopefully they will stop. Another tactic is to step aside sharply and just stare at the person. I wish there was a way I could legally issue a ticket for "Human Tailgating!" 

REMEMBER SHOE SHINE STANDS?

       Someone recently mentioned when they could remember having their shoes shined. It brought back memories of having my shoes shined on occasion at a stand in the lobby of the Des Moines Building @ 6th & Locust, in downtown Des Moines, Iowa.

       While working at Allied Mutual Insurance Company just south of Vet's Auditorium, I would walk to downtown at lunch time and having my shoes shined was a big treat. I loved to watch the guy apply the paste with his fingers, also apply a liquid around the soles for added color, and then get that rag out and shine away with an occasional "snap! " It was  a performance.

      Those guys were artists and they always knew what was going on and passing along that information from their valued customers. Along the same lines, were the many small shoe repair shops that were through-out  the city. A vanished breed! 

BRANDON'S JOKE OF THE WEEK

"What do you get if you cross a termite and a praying mantis? Something that says Grace before eating your house'!

CLYDE EDDY WOULD HAVE LOVED IT!

      This past Sunday at the NSCAR Brickyard 400 and  the Indianapolis Speedway, one thought swept through my mind when those drivers started up their engines. Since I had attended by myself and the adjacent seat was not taken, my only thought was how much enjoyment my late brother-in-law, Clyde Eddy would have had that day.

           If it would have been possible he would have been my first choice to join me at this or any big time NSCAR race. Some of my fondest memories as a young teenager were attending several stock car races with him at Knoxville and Newton, Iowa on those famous dirt tracks. 

          I remember so well sitting in the infield at Knoxville in his pick-up very late into the evening while he attended to one of the racing teams with his extraordinary mechanical skills. When all those 40 cars were started, it took me immediately back to those very fond memories. I almost began to cry and not in a bad way! I only hope that Clyde will join me for many more racing thrills!

ARGUABLY BETTER THAN SEX!

        This past Sunday, I attended my first big time NASCAR race, the Brickyard 400, at the Indianapolis 500 Speedway, in Speedway, Indiana. Although for many years back during the late 1970's, 80's, and early 90's, I had attended a dozen or so Indy Style racing at this same track.

         It had been on my bucket list for many years to see a NASCAR race, but, never could talk anyone in to going with me or making the time. This year, 2017, was the year. And, it was a ticket for one and I treated myself to a seat right on the start/finish line to experience all excitement on that front straight away. 

          The flagman in his perch was in front of me along with many of the pit areas of the 40 autos/drivers. Through the years of attending the Indy style racing, my seat was usually on the third turn where you could experience those machines coming right at you doing 200 MPH. That experience never got old.

          On this day it was a shear thrill to see and hear those 40 cars "start their engines" and proceed around that 2 1/2 mile oval with a three lap parade. But, when that green flag was dropped and those 40 machines sped past my seat and on their way to hitting 200 MPH my whole body became electrified! The sound, power, and speed, is an experience that one will never havein any other sporting event. If everyone could only know that rush and thrill, there wouldn't be enough sitting room here at Indy or anywhere else.

          I will be back to the Brickyard I guarantee it and probably will be "Coming soon to a track near you!" To be continued----------------------

CARROTS @ NASCAR?

        This past Sunday, July 23, 2017, I attended the the Brickyard 400 NASCAR race at the Indianapolis 500 Speedway. A fellow and his wife from Louisville, Kentucky sat beside me. Before the race started, he leaned over and asked his wife if she had brought the"carrots."

         I couldn't resist. With a smile, I reminded him that this was a NASCAR race and it that it didn't seem like the thing to do by eating carrots. A real fan would be eating a hot dog, Tenderloin, and a beer!