- Study links teen pregnancy with sexy television.
- Wachovia sought help from the FDIC but was turned down.
- U.S. airline companies making a comeback.
- Chicago had better hope Obama wins.
- If you have a kid, this story will break your heart.
- John Daly charged after passing out at the Hooters in Winston-Salem.
- Auditor comes down on Mary Easley’s travel expenses.
- Holes start off at top of coaches’ poll.
- 70 years since Orson’s War of the World broadcast. Follow the link to listen to audio of the broadcast.
- Is Greg Oden ever going to overcome injuries?
- Guy in Chicago will buy the Parton Theater.
- More teenagers being turned over at Nebraska hospital.
- Your Dear Leader story of the day.
- It’s just the CSM. But it also the first national circ. paper to stop printing.
- Gas prices in North Carolina could still be lower.
- Urban legends that happen to be true.
- We made a move into Syria.
- Smithfield settles union lawsuit.
- I figured every state makes you vote separately for president.
- Seven nuclear close calls.
- Economic downturns linked to new AC/DC albums.
- Power of attorney does not mean you can cast a vote for your spouse.
- And finally, your Dear Leader story of the day.
When plans exceed your dreams
The weather was gorgeous in Raleigh 10 years ago today.
The possibility that having an outdoor wedding this late in October would be a disaster was one of our worries as our wedding day approached. The first frost of the year came the night before for our rehearsal dinner, but the 24th was sunny, with temperatures in the upper 70s.
We were married at the old Plantation Inn in Raleigh, where a shopping center with a Costco and a Mimi’s Café now stands.
Things went smoothly. We were both supposed to present roses to our mothers but we didn’t have them, so we took two flowers from my wife’s bouquet and no one was the wiser. As I got ready that morning, I realized that the ring in my pocket didn’t fit my finger. I sent one of my groomsmen to my wife’s room to exchange the rings. One of her bridesmaids told him, “you have her ring, moron.”
My wife had no family church and mine, at the time, was helmed by a dour Lumbee who I didn’t want to marry us. So we used a woman we found in the back of Durham’s Independent newspaper.
She had about five weddings to do that day and she showed up for ours just in the nick of time. She called an audible on our vows but told the assembled that we had both spent painstaking hours writing them ourselves.
My mother-in-law surprised us with a horse-drawn carriage, which seemed like a bit much at the time, but actually ended up being very nice.
Most couples walk down the aisle as husband and wife, then turn immediately to be mobbed by friends and family. With the carriage, we were able to take a few minutes alone to ride around and talk about what had just happened.
We missed much of the reception while we took photographs. I managed to see my new brothers-in-law and a couple of my cousins headed next door to watch the N.C. State-Virginia game on television. It was good to see the two families coming together, even if they were actually ditching our reception.
We’d hoped that some of our friends would party the night away with us at the hotel, but some went to a concert instead.
We stayed up all night and nearly missed our honeymoon flight the next morning.
If I’d thought much about our 10-year anniversary on that day, I probably figured we’d mark the occasion with a weeklong trip somewhere nice. New York City. Maybe a resort in the Caribbean.
Instead, we barely managed to steal away for three days at the beach. We’ll probably celebrate this weekend by going out for a sandwiches and beers while we watch the N.C. State-Maryland game with a rowdy 20-month-old in tow.
Life doesn’t turn out like you plan, as most of you know. Sometimes it turns out even better, but you don’t realize it until you stop a minute to think. Today is one of those days for me to think a little.
I knew on Oct. 24, 1998, that I had married my best friend and that, no matter what happened, we would make a happy life together.
Today, Oct. 24, 2008, I can tell you that it’s turned out even happier than I had imagined.
City editor Brent Lancaster can be reached at brent_lancaster@link.freedom.com or 506-3040. Read his blog at brentsblog.freedomblogging.com.
- Just in time for Halloween. How to make a brain out of a watermelon.
- A breakthrough in search for common cold cure?
- The top 10 traditional pubs in Ireland.
- State’s eugenics panel considers legislation.
And now for kinder, gentler kids’ programming
Like many of you, I grew up with the classics.
Bugs Bunny. Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner. Daffy Duck. “Sesame Street.” “Captain Kangaroo.”
I learned a surprising amount about American culture and I absorbed an astounding amount of violence. For years, I never realized that the anvil had an actual purpose. I thought it was something made for dropping on someone you don’t like.
That was forever ago, though, and for years I lost track of children’s programming. I’ve watched “The Simpsons” and I was a big fan of The Cartoon Network’s “Space Ghost: Coast to Coast.” But those are cartoons for adults.
Popular kids programs like “Barney” and “SpongeBob SquarePants” were only on my radar when they showed up in adult culture.
Now that we have a son and are in the process of adopting another child, I’m smack in the middle of today’s kids shows. Some are annoying, but most are funny, danceable and much less violent than what my wife and I grew up with.
So in case you are expecting a new child or grandchild, or you are just tired of election news, reality shows and crime investigation dramas, here’s Brent’s guide to what’s on at his house.
“The Wiggles” - A four-piece Australian pop band plays surprisingly listenable tunes with help from a dinosaur, a dog, an Octopus and a pirate captain. Also includes appearances from the occasional cute Australian chick dressed in a band uniform or as a pirate wench.
“Thomas and Friends” - Thomas the Tank Engine is one of several trains working in an English rail yard run by a robber baron named Sir Topham Hat.
It’s hard to describe how much my son loves that train. The other morning I walked into the living room to find him hitting every button on the DVD player as he tried to turn it on. He was repeating “Thomas, Thomas, Thomas, Thomas.”
“Blue’s Clues” - A goofy guy and his blue dog look for clues. Pretty self-explanatory.
“Dora the Explorer” - A young woman explores the world and brings a message of empowerment to children everywhere.
“Max and Ruby” - An overbearing, anal-retentive rabbit takes the fun out of her younger brother’s life and helps cure my insomnia.
“Yo Gabba Gabba!” - This is literally the best program on American television. I’m not kidding.
Four creatures I can’t really describe joined by DJ Lance Rock, an apparent veteran of the Manhattan club scene, use virally catchy tunes to beat good thoughts into your child’s head. It’s fun to brush your teeth. Sharing is great. You shouldn’t hit your friends.
My son doesn’t like it quite as much as I do, but he’s coming around. Friends with kids think it’s terrible. I guess they still don’t “get me.”
Awesome music. Awesome lessons for the kids. Eighties rap legend Biz Markie even makes the occasional appearance. The best show we watch.
“Jack’s Big Music Show” - Puppets play music, dance and sing in a backyard clubhouse. When did music on kids television get to be so great? Highly recommended.
“Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!” - Remember a few years ago when a television show in Japan was causing viewers to have epileptic fits? I think that show was Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!
Makes my freaky come out and play.
City editor Brent Lancaster can be reached at brent_lancaster@link.freedom.com or 506-3040. Read his blog at brentsblog.freedomblogging.com.
- USPS stops mail delivery in a dangerous Chicago neighborhood.
- Next governor faces a budget shortfall.
- GM suspends 401K matching payments.
- Beyonce wants to be known as “Sasha Fierce.”
- It’s come to this. FDIC may begin guaranteeing mortgages. Welcome to the Nanny State, where you’ll never have to actually take responsibility for anything you do.
- I still love Somalian pirate stories.
- Lute Olson to retire at Arizona?
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