Warm, sunny days � why would anyone drive with all the windows closed? It's beyond me.

Weather reports on the radio were calling for highs up to 80 today, and as I drove past the middle school, I thought of all the youths trapped inside after a week off for Easter/spring break with the not-so-great weather, and now it's beautiful out and they're back inside. It always happens.

But it also makes school (and now in my life, work) more tolerable, I think. Sure, you don't want to be inside on such nice days, but the sunshine and warmer weather is just so uplifting. There's something to look forward to during lunch breaks and quitting time. The weekends have so much more possibility with out-of-doors activities from which to choose.

I also had the most random thought this weekend. Driving to the mall, Casey behind the wheel, radio on, I thought: "Dammit, we have to sit through another week of American Idol with Josh Gracin." The guy's horrible and hasn't changed since week three (or whenever it was) when he went country and never turned back. Say what you will about Carmen or the others, but I think they have more potential then he does. The guy can twang with the best of them, and he'll kick ass at karaoke contests, but as an "American idol"? Better chance fighting for our freedom in the Marines, I think.

As for where this random thought came, here's the trail: "Ants Marching" was on the radio, and when the fast-talking part came in ("Candyman tempting the thought ..." etc.), I found I still know all the words. Then I thought of other songs with similar bridges, like "Hook" by Blues Traveler ("Suck it in suckitinsuckitin ... "). Next, my mind wandered to Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start The Fire" and, finally, to Garth Brooks' "Ain't Going Down Til The Sun Comes Up," which Josh covered during the country-rock show that inexplicably (and unforgivably, I say) did not include The Eagles. How do you do country-rock and not include one of the pioneers of the genre?

And I'm going to make a mix CD entitled "Casey Will Hate This" and put on it all the songs and artists I like but she can't stand, so I don't listen to them as much at home or when we're in my car together.