Our phone/cable/internet bill. This was for just one call to "Information." Believe me, I heard it all from my wife already!

Her: "What were you thinking?"

Me: "I don't know. I just thought it would be a quarter or something."

Her: "Haven't you ever heard of the internet?"

Me: "Yeah, I just thought this would be easier."

Her: "Who were you trying to call, anyway?"

Me: "I don't remember. I remember I used "Information," but I'm not sure why.

Her: "This is no longer the 1980s. Use the internet."

PS: (Spoiler Alert!) Astronaut Dave Bowman goes through some sort of freaky space-light show, then turns into a baby. Made sense to me.

I'm feeling a little extra macho-he-man today because I fixed our dryer! Now I'm going to get very technical with you, so skip over this part if you don't understand very complicated repair-man jargon.

There are these two round, black doohickies that have something to do with the gas. Apparently they go kerfluey after a few years, and you have to unscrew the thinamabob that holds them on and replace them. Unforunately, I broke off the gizmos holding the deeley to the doodad, and had to make another trip back to the appliance parts store for two more gizmos.

Anyway, after 2 days, 3 cut fingers and 58 dollars, we now have a functioning dryer! If we'd have had a repair-man (or woman! Am I right, ladies???) come out, it's estimated to have cost 1.2 million dollars.

So, while I might not be a real "superhero," today I bask in the warm glow of a job well done. Or maybe that's just my warm pants.

I am happy to report that all of us returned home safely from our weekend of camping. A couple thoughts:

1. There was a lot of music and drunken laughter in the campground until about 1 am. It was just like camping in a Planet Hollywood!

2. Our old Coleman stove still works! My dad bought it in about 1968, and it's still chugging away! They don't build stuff like that any more!

3. Kids don't love to "go for a nice long hike!"