Springtime in Philly

It's April 5.  It's springtime.  My garden has some flowers popping out.  But it's freezing outside here in Philly.  It feels like winter.  Worse, come this weekend, it's going to be winter again - snow on Saturday and again on Monday.

Wwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!

If you're like me, you dig the warm weather.  Where the hell is the climate change?  Bring it on!  But alas, BRP faithful, I don't want to be labeled as a whiner.  So here are some videos to make you think "yummy, Summer is here."

Let's start with some surfing, ok?  Kelly Slater is to surfing what Michael Jordan is to basketball:  the greatest ever.  Take a look at this montage, and ask yourself how a guy who grew up in Cocoa Beach, Florida ever became so comfortable on big waves.  That J-Bay ride is amazing, as is the Backdoors one at Pipeline.  But that last barrel - how did he pull that off?  Regardless, surfing still inspires thoughts of summer here, and this helps to make me feel warm.

How about some music?  I thought you would never ask.  I'm just going to throw a couple of the best summer songs out there, and hope that they stick on you. Ready?  Here goes:

Sly and the Family Stone, "Hot Fun in the Summertime".  Do I need to say more?  This song is slow-grooving but great, and always makes me think of warm, breezy days hanging out with family and friends.  And I dress just like Sly himself, haha.

How about some Wilco?  "Heavy Metal Drummer" is a good one.  These guys are great live, but never, and I mean never, listen to an interview with Jeff Tweedy. You've been warned.

I'm hardly an Eagles fan (band, not football team), but Don Henley cut a great summertime track called "Boys of Summer."  You got your wayfarer's on, baby?

One last song, and then I'm gone.  Dick Dale is one messed up dude now, but he invented surf rock, and "Let's Go Trippin'" is the best of the best.  Listen to it while watching Kelly Slater tear up those waves and you will be stoked forever.  And hey, if you followed the Grateful Dead you were known as a Dead Head.  If you follow Dick Dale, what are you known as?  Bingo!

Well, that worked for me. I'm warm and kicking off my shoes now.  Where did I leave those flip flops?

Think warm thoughts and we'll get there.  I'm off to see some ska on Friday and then Yo La Tango on Saturday.  That should be hot, hot, hot!  Enjoy yourselves!