John Hanley’s Summer 2004 Top Ten Cool Things
John Hanley’s Summer 2004 Top Ten Cool Things
10. 2004 MINI Cooper S
I took possession of my second MINI Cooper (black, with a checked roof) last May. Driving it is a blast. It’s fast, looks cool, and my wife & kids love it. This is cool because I never get tired of driving it.
9. The Fixer – Joe Sacco
Summer means catching up on the pile of comics I’ve accumulated over the course of the school year. Of those I was able to get to, Joe Sacco’s graphic narrative on the human cost of war was the best. Of course, the word “comic” really doesn’t apply, which I guess is the tiniest bit of why this was cool. For the full effect, you’d have to read it yourself.
[Runners-up: La Perdita - Jessica Abel, Eightball #23 – Daniel Clowes, A Game of Gods – Daniel Torres]
8. Reading Harry Potter while eating cheese
I finally got around to reading books two through four of the Harry Potter series this summer, saving that gloomy #5 for later (Don’t tell me who dies!!! Don’t tell me who dies!!!). I also ate cheese while eating these books. Good cheese. This was cool because while cheese is not necessarily better with books, books are always better with cheese.
[Runners-up: The Devil in the White City – Erik Larson, Uncle Gabby - Tony Millionaire, Missee Lee – Arthur Ransome]
7. The Hives on Letterman 7/24/04
One night the wife Julie and I were watching The Late Show with David Letterman before bed. I’d seen The Hives were the musical guest but didn’t think much of it as I wasn’t much impressed by their previous CD. Then along about 12:20 or so, they came out and... blew me away. Dunno if it was the hilariously Jagger-esque lead singer or the crunchy lines of their 300-pound guitar player, but “Walk, Idiot, Walk” became permanently implanted in my brain after one listening. I ran out and bought the new CD and spent much of the rest of the summer with it in the player of the MINI. This was cool because there’s nothing like punk rock with the windows down during the summer.
[Runners-up: Elvis Presley – Boy From Tupelo, Jonny Lang – “Red Light,” Morrissey – You Are the Quarry]
6. The Elixir of Life
Safe, legal, inexpensive, coffee is my drug of choice, and this is made all the easier by the location of a Starbucks within ten minutes walking distance from my house. Most mornings I’ll have a Grande Non-Fat Cappuccino. When I’m especially wired, you’ll know I’ve gone for the extra-cool extra shot.
5. New House
Just about a year ago, my family and I moved into a large pile of bricks that is more house than I ever expected to own. We spent a good bit of the summer furnishing, painting, and otherwise whipping the place into shape, and while we have a long way to go, what we have on our hands here is a really cool house. I’m most certain of this when I sit reading in my big leather Papa chair after the kids have gone to bed. Then I’ll know I’m a very lucky guy, which is extremely cool.
4. Road Trip with Jack & Walter
I took a road trip with Walter (7) and Jack (5) this summer. We piled into the MINI and went north. We got a motel room and stayed up late and watched TV. We bought matching sweatshirts because it was so doggone cold. In short, we had a great time and if you can’t figure out why that’s cool, I can’t help you.
3. The Summer of Charlie
Charlie is my youngest (turned two in May), and putting it mildly, a handful.
Simple human kindness dictated that I take him off his mother’s hands as much as
possible this summer, so we spent a fair amount of time at Starbucks (he calls it
“Bucks”-- ain’t that cute?!?). He’d toddle in, rush over to the case to get his
Odwalla, then wait patiently at the table while I got my coffee and a molasses
cookie. He likes to hold his cup up so we can toast each other, and generally run
around being so darn cute it’s hard to believe he’s demon-possessed. This was
cool because I’ll always remember this summer bonding with my baby boy.
2. Playing Uno at Topinabee
Julie and I stayed up a couple nights playing cards with Walter and Jack at my
friend’s cottage. Despite the fact the boys about had a nervous breakdown every
time they lost, a good time was had by all. This was cool because I love hanging
out with my family.
1. Spiderman 2 & PF Chang’s with Julie
Yes, the Beloved Spousal Unit and I saw this ultimate popcorn movie one night in July, then went to PF Chang’s China Bistro for adult beverages and dinner. While the movie was great-- scary, moving, funny-- and the lettuce wraps were, as you young people might say, “awesome,” the best part of the night was spending time with my best friend, and of course, there’s nothing cooler than when your best friend also happens to be your wife.
#7: The Hives on Letterman 7/24/04