Talk: July 28, 2024
Talk of the Town: Wherefore art thou, Optimus Prime? by Mark LaFlamme
Transformer tease
After getting the whole community wicked excited about seeing a massive transformer being hauled through the Twin Cities last week, city officials on Tuesday said, in essence, “Psych! We’re not doing it!” No explanation for the delay was given, but rumors are afloat that power company officials believe it would be easier and much, much cooler to move the transformer using hot air balloons during the big festival in August. Okay, not really, but you have to admit, that would be worth waiting for.
Decepticons are everywhere
At any rate, when they announced that crews would be moving a giant transformer across the Twin Cities, I initially thought they were talking about the fictional robots, not some stupid piece of electrical equipment. In my head, I was imagining watching Optimus Prime being hog tied and hauled across the region, kicking and screaming in his enraged robot voice, on a flatbed or something. You can imagine my disappointment.
Call me Laserbeak
I will admit that I know absolutely nothing about The Transformers of movie franchise fame. To write that bit of brilliance above, I had to turn to Wikipedia. Even so, I suspect that I probably got something wrong and now all the Comic Con guys are going to come after me again. It’ll be just like the unfortunate Harley Quinn affair of 2016 all over again.
Young love
At the Lewiston Mall last weekend, I spotted a young lad walking with his girl across the parking lot. Every 10 feet, the boy would attempt to slip his arm around the lass’ midsection. Every time he tried, she reached back, grabbed his arm and removed it. God bless him, though, the kid kept on trying and by the time they reached Bartlett Street, the young lady had consented to the embrace and like that, love blossomed before my eyes. I’d say it was exactly like the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet except it happened in front of Funz Trampoline Park instead of in fair Verona. But otherwise, exactly the same.
When you’re here, you’re family
There’s a short little road that runs along the edge of Tripp Lake in Poland and every time I ride my motorcycle there, there’s some sort of neighborhood gathering happening on the shores of the scenic lake. The people who live on that road seem to have such a great time during the summer that I’m always tempted to try to insinuate myself in one of their happy affairs. “Hello there,” I’d say, “I’m Rodney, a cousin from your mother’s side. Good to see you. Are those hot dogs for anyone?” I’m about 75% sure that this would work at least long enough for me to eat that hot dog, play with some dogs and maybe take a paddle boat out for a spin.
