It’s not even summer yet, but they’ve made a huge – HUGE – concert announcement for the NY State Fair, which ushers in the unofficial end of the summer. It’s a triple-bill of Journey, Foreigner, and Night Ranger. Oh, yes, the geezers will be out in force that night. Not this geezer, mind you. Ticket prices are $55 and $65 (kind of appropriate, given the expected age group), but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t even go for free. I don’t think I ever saw any of these guys back in the day (possibly Journey – were they the warmup band for Rush when I saw Rush in Buffalo in 1979 or so? Or, now that I think about it, it’s possible that I saw them in Binghamton – or was it Cortland? All I really remember about that show is being really, really stoned and snagging a couple fists full of gushy, white-bread hot dog rolls from a concession stand, woofing them down in one bite, and then nearly choking to death because I didn’t have anything to drink. Damn long beer line nearly killed me – with Sweet (speaking of not enough oxygen) – well, anyway, if I did, you can see it obviously didn’t leave much of an impression on me), and I have even less desire now.

I don’t know about your neck of the woods, but up here, the average price for a gallon of gas is $3.88. Now that I drive something like 40 miles a day on weekdays, that means it’s costing me roughly $1.50 a day (hoping for better mileage now that the snow tires are off) just to go to work. The garbage dudes just tacked on a $4 fuel surcharge (per quarter, which isn’t bad, I guess, but if it gets much higher I’ll be bringing it in myself, which I probably ought to be doing anyway, since I drive right past the dump on my way to work). And it’s time to go fill up my diesel cans – that’s around $4.20 a gallon at the “cheap” places, so there’s another $40+.

One of the things I inherited with this house is 300 or so gallon fuel oil tank that’s pretty new looking and sits in my garage. I’d love to have somebody come out and fill it up with diesel (shoulda done that about 50 cents a gallon ago), but the thought of even 100 gallons all at once is just a bit too daunting. Good thing the Kubota is pretty economical to run.

Jennifer Lopez has been named (by somebody or other) the Most Beautiful Woman in the World. Really? I mean, I’m not saying she’s a pooch or anything, and, let’s face it, it’s a pretty stupid thing in the first place (I mean, it’s dumb, superficial, and very subjective), but, still, I encounter much more beautiful women every day at the grocery store, the gas station, at work, – and, of course, the most beautiful of all, right here in my very own home (just don’t tell my wife).

I think what cinched the deal for Jennifer was her job as a judge on whatever stupid “reality” show she’s on, because she sits next to geezer-rocker Steven Tyler, and, hey, even I would look like the most beautiful woman in the world next to him.

Speaking of geezer-rockers, Ritchie Blackmore is 66 today (and I think I even saw a rainbow), and washed-up former baseball player Pete Rose is 70. And of course (whilst on the subject of former baseball players) I suppose we should mention that Barry “asterisk” Bonds was convicted on one count of something or other related to his steroid use. Or I guess his lying about steroid use. Or something. Can’t say as I really care, but I’m glad that they’ve stopped all other crime in the country. I mean, they must have, right? ‘Cuz this would have to be pretty much at the bottom of the list of things to prosecute, behind murder, rape, and Wall Street fraud. Right?

Well, Barry’s lawyers are no doubt hoping prosecutors will retry Bonds on the three other counts the jury was deadlocked on, so that they can their hands on some more of Barry’s $80 million or so net worth. And I’m sure taxpayers can afford whatever it takes. Justice at all costs, and whatnot.

Oh well, time to go and do whatever it is I do so I can go and get it over with and then come back and go to bed.