Broke Girls ’

I can do this and I can also do that

Ican feel snooty and superior to those who like movies that involve stilted dialogue, terrible acting, incomprehensible plots and rely too much on massive amounts of CGI, car chases, explosions and other desperate attempts to capture viewers’ attention. I can also binge-watch old Godzilla movies for hours – you know, the ones featuring guys in rubber suits fighting. I can post a picture of an absolutely delicious looking Dave’s Giant Hamburger as the cover photo in the I Grew Up In Fairfield Too Facebook group. I can also know that the only thing I would eat off it now would be the lettuce, tomato and grilled onions.

I can love my Chiweenie Chunky Tiberius Wade with all my heart and know that his unconditional love helped get me through a really rough time a number of years ago. I can also wait until he is deep asleep and make a sudden startling sound like clapping my hands or snapping a large book shut just to see the incredulous, hilarious look on his face when he wakes up and his tongue is half stuck outta his mouf.

I can get ticked off at a driver who does something stupid like cut me off. I can then seconds later do the exact same thing to someone else and feel zero shame.

I can finish reading a deep and profound book on how to handle and deal with deep-seated emotional issues using proven modalities that invite readers to do really strenuous, probing and transformative inner work that can change their lives and those around them forever. I can then chase it with an Avengers graphic novel I got from Waterfront Comics in Suisun City.

I can stare at a blank document in Microsoft Word for over an hour trying to think of something to write for a column when the deadline is looming. I can also then subsequently write a column where one of the things I mention is staring at a blank document in Microsoft Word for over an hour trying to think of something to write.

I can be an old dog, I turned 58 on Jan. 2, and be set in my ways and think there is nothing else I need to learn. I can also hear from my friend Scot Babot that perhaps I have a condition called misophonia where everyday noises like the sound of chewing can cause irritation, rage or panic. That may explain why when I am at the movie theater the thing that annoys me way more than anyone on their phone is someone chewing their popcorn like a goat, crinkling their candy wrappers or making squeak, squoink, squonk sounds with the straws in their sodas.

I can look down my nose and feel superior when I get an email from the Solano County Library informing me of the new DVDs they have in stock and think “DVDs? What is this, 2011?” I can also see they have several ones of recent films I have

Tony Wade The last laugh not seen that are available like “No Time to Die,” “The Many Saints of Newark” and “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” and hurry up and place holds on all of them.

I can celebrate the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today by reflecting on the fight that he and so many others went through so that I can enjoy the changes, advances and progress that have been made since the start of the Civil Rights movement. I can also know that we have a long way to go to seeing his dream fulfilled.

I can play a game in my head called “Who Is Wearing Pajama Bottoms On This Zoom Meeting?” I can also . . . well, you know the rest.

Godzilla about to be busted for jaywalking.

Pixabay

Fairfield freelance humor columnist and accidental local historian Tony Wade writes two weekly columns: “The Last Laugh” on Mondays and “Back in the Day” on Fridays. Wade is also the author of The History Press book “Growing Up In Fairfield, California.”

Visit any national park for free on these special dates

Tribune ConTenT AgenCy

Around one-quarter of the 400 national parks, historical sites, monuments, trails, forests and more that are managed by the U.S. National Parks Service charge fees for entry, but there are a few days each year when these incredible areas are opened to the public for free.

The 2022 free days are as follows: n Monday: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

n April 16: First day of National Park Week n Aug. 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act n Sept. 24: National Public Lands Day n Nov. 11: Veterans Day

Last year, there were six free days. The extra free day was in honor of the National Park Service’s 105th anniversary.

Individuals and families looking to explore more national parks in the new year can also purchase an America the Beautiful annual pass, which grants free access for all NPS-managed sites in the country for $80 a year. There are also discounts on the pass for people with disabilities, veterans or active military members and seniors.

National parks became so popular this past year that the most popular, like Acadia, Yosemite and Glacier National Park, began taking reservations and limiting the numbers of visitors daily. Arches National Park in Utah became the second national park in the state to begin a new timed entry ticket program in mid-December, as they look to decrease crowds and more evenly distribute park visitors day by day.

For more information about the free National Park days, visit the National Park Service website at nps.gov.

Simon Zimmermann/Dreamstime/TNS A woman sits at Bear Lake in the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.

BRIGHT spot

CORRECTION POLICY

It is the Daily Republic’s policy to correct errors in reporting. If you notice an error, please call the Daily Republic at 425-4646 during business hours weekdays and ask to speak to the editor in charge of the section where the error occurred. Corrections will be printed here.

DAILY REPUBLIC

Published by McNaughton Newspapers 1250 Texas Street, Fairfield, CA 94533

Home delivered newspapers should arrive by 6:30 a.m. daily except Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (many areas receive earlier delivery). If you do not receive your newspaper or need a replacement, call us at 427-6989 by 10 a.m. and we will attempt to deliver one on the same day. For those receiving a

WHOM TO CALL Subscriber services, delivery problems 427-6989 To place a classified ad 427-6936 To place a classified ad after 5 p.m. 427-6936 To place display advertising 425-4646 Tours of the Daily Republic 427-6923

NEWS DEPARTMENT Managing Editor Glen Faison Sports Editor Paul Farmer 427-6925 427-6926

sample delivery, to “OPT-OUT,” call the Circulation Department at 427-6989. Suggested subscription rates:

Daily Print: $4.12/week Online: $3.23/week EZ-PAY: $14.10/mo.

Publisher Foy McNaughton 427-6962 Co-Publisher T. Burt McNaughton 427-6943 Advertising Director Bill Barno 427-6937 Main switchboard 425-4646 Daily Republic FAX 425-5924

Photo Editor Robinson Kuntz 427-6915