There was a Peanuts strip that ends with "The best kind of trips are the ones where you can be home by noon." Reading Charles Schulz' biography I learned that he feels the same way. I am a little stouter, I can last until suppertime, and then want to go home. But I'm getting excited about my 2 upcoming trips. They're both short term (1-2 nights) affairs each, and just to the next state, but it's a chance to get out. I've got the reservations set up for both trips, both at hotels that are very nice, for a king sized bed. Also, both have pools, cable and pay-per-view movies. The latter's usually a disappointment, but there's something in me that gets excited at the prospect of being able to see something that's still in theatres (maybe the discount second run, but still...) The first trip/hotel even has an in-room jacuzzi that I've been wanting for so long. Hopefully, it'll take care of the stress and strain I've had lately. If not there, then the hot tub at both places may be able to do something. And there's the food to look forward to, both restaurant and home cooking on both trips, I'm hoping I won't need a sphygmomanometer when it's all over.
I bought a cigarette lighter adapter for my PSP to play some games and watch some of the movies I got for the PSP but haven't got to watch yet, which'll come in handy for the first trip, as I'm riding up with my parents for the family reunion. Also was starting to consider what CDs I'd take to listen to, but given that some only have 1-2 songs, maybe after I'm employed again I can see about getting an iPod or two (must think happy thoughts, keep the stress and depression away!) I also cleaned out our overnight case for the toiletries today. (it's been so long since it was cleaned. How long? There were some Mardi Gras tokens from Pleasure Island at the bottom, and we were last down there 4 years ago)

Adolf Hitler or Ann Coulter? Take this quiz and see if you can tell them apart. Courtesy of Fark.

Still on the hunt for the McDonald's Cars Happy Meal toys. I added Luigi and Ramone (green and purple versions to my collections) and added 2 more Doc Hudsons and purple Ramone to my trade bait stack in case I can't get them all. Still on the hunt for Fillmore (the van voiced by George Carlin) Also picked up the Cars CD soundtrack. John Lassiter is right, this is just the thing to put in for a road trip.
Speaking of trips, Scott McCloud's doing a test drive in Minnesota for his upcoming tour to promote his next book Making Comics and is blogging about it. Also joining in is his wife Ivy and 13 year old daughter Sky.

Last night we went to see Cars again. It was just as enjoyable the second time around. And I stopped off at McDonald's on the way home for a Cars Happy Meal. But I got a second Doc Hudson (which'll go with my duplicate Lightning McQueen for trade bait if need be) I hope to get all 8 Happy Meal toys, as I think they're the best of the Cars I've seen out so far, which are the Kellogg's cereal give--aways and the die-cast ones.
But the summer films so far have been an appetiser for the main course, that is coming in little over a week, Superman Returns. Here are some links to the soundtrack available. At first, being on dial-up, I could only get 30 second chunks at a time. But I clicked on the Windows Media lo-res link, and am enjoying it as I'm typing this right now.
And I should warn you, stay away from the spoiler-laced Ain't It Cool News links on their sites (they're boxed and have "spoiler" written on the right) Don't even read them as I thought I would, to get out before the juicy bits get revealed. I got one big spoiler before I could get out of Dodge. And no, I'm not going to tell you.
And although I've passed up night before screenings of other films because the wife couldn't go, I am very tempted to go to next Tuesday's 10pm screening, and take her the next day as planned. And even if I go twice, it won't diminish my anticipation of seeing it in Imax 3D, as I will get to see in less than 3 weeks (which'll be plenty of time for projectionists to have it ready to roll, but don't know about June 27th) with some good friends of mine. Looking forward to it.

I blogged a while back about Netflix suing Blockbuster, and now they've struck back.

I only point out this link to the story about Screech selling shirts to save his house because reading the replies points out 1) how things are tough all over, 2) one should be thankful for what they have (even me!), and 3) it sums up everything the internet was, is, and will be.

First there was Old Yeller Dog Food, and now there's this tie-in to anime classic Grave of the Fireflies.
Warning: clicking on these links have spoilers for each film. Although they've been out for quite some time, if you haven't seen either film and plan to, you might not want to click on them.