Introducing my son to ‘Grease’

So last Saturday I sat on the couch with my son and watched the movie ‘Grease’. There are few movies that transcend generations but Grease is a movie that you can view one or a hundred times and it’s like a brand new movie. I realized early in life that I was soul mates with Olivia Newton-John. Olivia didn’t realize this at first but after a few years and a couple of restraining orders she embraced my role as possibly her biggest fan.

So as you might imagine driving to work today I was stunned when I spotted the billboard……

In huge letters the billboard read "Olivia Newton-John: August 24th"!!! I about took out the car next to me as I took a double-take, not sure I was actually seeing what I was seeing. I got to work and had to check it out for myself. Sure enough, August 24th at the Chuckchansi Gold Indian Casino, Olivia will be in concert! The reality is still sinking in.

This news brought back many memories. I fondly recall the first time I watched Grease. Innocent Sandy struggling with her feelings for the "bad boy". All set to rather catchy music. Of course the "money shot" being the moment at the end of the movie where the innocent Sandy waltzed into the school carnival (I still wonder why my school never had rides at their carnival) wearing skin tight black leather pants. It's a mental image not easily forgotten and the subject of several late night adolescent moments of self gratification.

It was also the moment I knew that she was the one for me. From that point forward every girl would be measured against what would become known as the "Grease Olivia Leather Pants Entrance". Of course as the years went by other points of reference were added like the "Lets Get Physical" video and the roller skating scene in Xanadu.

Disappointingly, her film career went downhill after Xanadu, but what do you expect? Once you've stared in a masterpiece like that there's really nowhere to go but down. Plus I think she got typecast as a Disco Roller-skating Greek Muse. Those roles don't come around every day.

Her hits span over three decades, but one song stands out. "Have You Never Been Mellow" is pure genius. You can't listen to that song without really looking deep inside and asking yourself...."Have I never been mellow?" With introspective lyrics like that it's no wonder she's still a hot ticket on the Indian casino circuit.

Of course no discussion of Olivia would be complete without the mention of perhaps one of the greatest songs ever penned....Magic, another Xanadu soundtrack hit. I can't listen to this song without feeling an overwhelming urge to strap on a pair old roller-skates and do a reverse direction couples-only skate. Oh the memories....

I enjoyed July 5th more…..

This year July 4th was fairly uneventful. Typically my kids and I travel to Portland, Oregon to visit my parents. We spend the weekend eating, drinking, and lighting off the type of fireworks that would put any California Fire Captain into an asylum. Unlike California the residents of Oregon and Washington get to enjoy fireworks that actually leave the ground. If you have the budget you can buy mortars that can be seen from Idaho on a clear day.

So as you might imagine my kids having grown up playing Roman Candle wars with their cousins were not really interested in buying a couple of “safe and sane” fountains. So we took in the local fireworks show and decided that the next day we would go fishing.

Little did I know that on this 5th of July 2009 we would do a lot more “catching” than “fishing”. Courtright Reservoir, Elevation 8,170 feet. (We actually saw snow not too far above the lake). 13 fish in 4 hours. We would have had our limit (15 fish) but Brieana decided it was time for us to leave. And as most of you men know when the woman is ready leave you pretty much need to start packing up regardless of the fishing action. :)

It was certainly one of the better day’s we’ve had recently and we ate every bit of the catch though with 13 fish I needed to get creative. So after pan frying the first night I found a really good recipe online for baked trout. Click here to see it. I added a couple of fresh chilies and a jalapeño from the garden to spice it up. Then after baking it I topped it with some fresh tomatoes. I also used fat-free sour cream just because I don’t need the extra calories.

I also realized one of the reasons I actually decided to have kids…………..so I don’t have to clean all the fish!! He’s actually pretty good.