The middle of the summer is fine time for our nation to have come into being, but can you imagine how those poor patriotic souls in their summer wool survived in Philadelphia that miserably hot summer, and alas, there was no A/C. Are we spoiled or what? Or were they simply technologically behind the times?

Another year has passed – it’s OBX time yet again after more years than I can count. When asked where OBX is and what the letters stand for, this is it: Outer Banks. Some dude a long time ago added the X because it sounded cool. It’s used everywhere today.

If you’ve ever been to Carmel, Ca. you’ll remember the literally dozens of art galleries in the semi-large downtown area, all designed for tourists, of course. I doubt many locals ever go into the myriad shops, clothes, furniture (go figure), restaurants (some are really good so that’s a possibility for locals) and again, all the TONS of galleries. So what? you wonder.

Taxes are all done, a tear-dampened check sent off, a goodly amount of booze dulled your pain, and now you’re looking forward again to a magnificent spring with maybe a mini-vacation to your in-laws in June.

The 17th is St. Patrick’s Day, but alas, it falls on Sunday, so you need to rethink this. How about you plan to celebrate on Saturday night and on Sunday you can sit in your sham-rocking chair to recover.