LISA DENTON: No disrespect to people living in the Gulf, but when I read headlines like "Bracing for Barry," I have to chuckle. A mass of hot air named Barry being a nuisance? That's my Monday through Friday.
BARRY COURTER: I should probably take offense at that, but even I know it's true.
LISA: Did you know that, except for the big ones that get retired, hurricane names come around every six years? Barry was first used in 1983, and if I'd known you then, I'm sure I would have been poking fun. You'll get your chance when Hurricane Lisa is back on the list in 2022.
BARRY: That was your professional wrestling name, wasn't it?
LISA: If it wasn't, it should be.
I hope we make it through the full list this year because there couldn't be a better name for a hurricane than Wendy. The spelling's off, but still.
BARRY: Well, Gayle or Gail should be coming around soon.
LISA: That's almost as good.
This is a big week in history because Tuesday marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 11, when men first walked on the moon. The actual anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepping onto the lunar surface will be Sunday. People remember watching it happen late on July 20, but NASA's timeline goes by Greenwich Mean Time, which is four hours ahead of Eastern time, so it was already July 21 for NASA. Not to underplay it, but that's kind of a big deal. You can see a film about it at the Tennessee Aquarium's Imax Theater. "Apollo 11: First Steps Edition" is actually showing through Sept. 5, but this week seems like a great time to see it.
Lisa Denton and Barry Courter
BARRY: I remember being at a friend's house for that event and his mother letting us stay up to watch it on TV. Actually, what I remember is that his mother would wake us up when it appeared like it was actually going to happen. It took forever. I was 5. To this day, I remember that my eyelids weighed about 400 pounds that night.
LISA: Gravity still affects my eyelids when it starts getting dark.
And I know this one will make you cringe, but Santa Claus will be at the Christmas in July Craft Show at the East Ridge Recreation Center on Saturday. If it helps, they'll be accepting toys for T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital at Erlanger, Ronald McDonald House, the Forgotten Child Fund and Salvation Army Angel Trees. Or you can bring school supplies for needy kids that will be used in just a matter of weeks. Don't look now, but it's almost time for school to start.
BARRY: Hey, you kids get off my lawn! Seriously, I bet most kids, and their parents, are sort of glad that summer is almost over. Their lives today are so structured, summer probably doesn't feel that much different than school. It's not like they are hanging out at the pool or in the basement with their friends all day every day like we did. And the Christmas in July thing sounds pretty cool actually.
LISA: I also heard that there's an Adult Game Night Friday at Eastgate Town Center. And "adult" just means "no kids." Twister is about as R-rated as it gets.
BARRY: Welllll ...
LISA: Nope, leave it. Proceeds benefit the Mary Walker Historical and Educational Foundation and #GiveWomenandGirlsEducation, a project that supports literacy for females and orphans in Cameroon.
BARRY: Riverfront Nights gets underway this Saturday with the Latin funk sounds of The Commonheart. And "Jaws" is the Bobby Stone Film Series selection that day at the Tivoli. A giant shark on a giant screen sounds like a lot of fun, doesn't it?
LISA: It does, if only to hear the soundtrack. Duunnn dunnn ... duuuunnnn duun ...
Get event details every Thursday in ChattanoogaNow or online anytime at www.ChattanoogaNow.com.
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.