AndyO Blog

Since I have one of the worst commutes in the Seattle area, I've noticed that it's the little things that make all the difference.

For example, a week ago when I was in heavy traffic on 520, a woman driving in front of me was greedily smoking cigarette after cigarette. I have nothing against people who smoke, except when the toxic chemicals waft in my direction.

On this particular day, the traffic and weather conditions were perfect for the acrid smoke to drift my way (I counted 4 cigarettes in about 25 minutes).

So if you have to smoke in stop-and-go traffic, here's what I request (yes, I'm talking to you 192-VBD):

1. Don't hang your cigarette outside your car window--roll it up!
2. Recirculate the air in your car so you can breathe in as much smoke as possible.
3. Close your sunroof (if you have one).
4. Dispose of your cigarette in the ashtray--not the side of the freeway. 

Your fellow human beings stuck in commute hell will thank you, and I'm sure you'll enjoy all that smoke you've been missing. Thanks!

It took everyone in the family to stop him from destroying the house. Especially when he discovered the power of the Dark Side!

I've really been neglecting this blog for a while. Here's my best shot at catching up:

• My youngest son Drew just had a birthday a week or so ago. He had his best friend and his family over, and he was in heaven. They also had a birthday for him at school. This is my favorite picture.

• Rush has a new album coming out -- "Snakes & Arrows." I just heard the first single "Far Cry" the other day, and I was blown away.
• My car has had major problems in the past month, costing $1000 or more dollars to fix. I can't complain... it has over 100K miles on it. Whenever my car goes in the shop, I end up taking the bus to work; funny how I arrive at work so relaxed.
• The Police are touring this year (one of those things I never thought would happen). This is one of my favorite bands -- and Stewart Copeland is one of my favorite drummers. I bought tickets for the Seattle show -- and when they added a second show, I bought tickets for that, too. It's going to be a busy summer with The Police and Rush touring around the U.S.
• Cameron and I saw David Copperfield in January, and I've got to say I wasn't as impressed as I thought I'd be. I now realize why after watching the film "The Prestige." In this movie, Michael Caine's character explains how stage illusions have three parts: The Pledge, The Turn, and The Prestige. In a simple illusion, the Pledge is when the magician shows us the bird, puts it in a cage, and covers it; The Turn is when the magician smashes the cage; The Prestige is when the magician brings back the bird.

Well, not to spoil anything here, but there's an illusion that Copperfield does when he doesn't bring back the bird. And then he says, "Goodnight!" You're waiting in the theater, even though the house lights come up. And then when you give up and walk into the lobby, you think The Prestige is waiting for you there... but no. The Prestige never happens. I guess for Copperfield, the biggest entertainer of our time (he told us this several times through video clips in the show) he's probably sick of always having to do The Prestige. But it sure makes for an unfulfilling illusion -- especially as the last one of the night.