Buckle up.

It's been a long while since I sat my ever expanding derriere down to write a blogpost. But the public, noticing a literary, insightful and humorous void in their lives has spoken.

Nah, I'm just messin' with you. No one even noticed. But it's a slow night and a great movie so here we go.

There was a time when the word "maverick" would conjure up images. To audiences of a certain age, it represents the long-running television show of the same name that starred the late, great James Garner. In more recent times, it brings to mind a certain former senator from Arizona who, in hindsight, might have been the last reasonable Republican before he lost his battle in 2018 to an aggressive brain cancer.

But thanks to Paramount Pictures, Tom Cruise and director Joseph Kosinski, "maverick" will heretofore only refer to one thing: the Top Gun sequel, Top Gun: Maverick.

Like this blogpost, it's been a long time coming—36 years since the first Top Gun film. I don't say this very often, but it was well worth the wait.

Not unlike my high school girlfriend, from the first frame the movie is thrilling, fast and wildly entertaining. Cruise is in top form again as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a Top Gun flight school instructor known for pushing the envelope and a healthy disregard for the rules.

He's joined by Jon Hamm, Jennifer Connelly and Miles Teller all at the top of their game.

Cruise has long been known for the authenticity he brings to his roles, whether it's hanging on the outside of a C-130 as it takes off in Mission Impossible, or hanging out a top floor of the Burj Kahlifa, the world's tallest building, in a different Mission Impossible.

In Top Gun: Maverick, he's actually in the cockpit of an F-18, actually taking off of an aircraft carrier, actually doing barrelrolls and actually in the seat during most of the dogfights.

It's an example of what Hollywood does best when it's firing on all afterburners. Pure adrenaline, pure entertainment, pure emotion. Just like my high school girlfriend (alright, I'll stop now).

Since this is definitely not a movie where you should be flying solo, my co-pilot for the afternoon was my good friend, esteemed colleague, fellow bronze medal curling champion and proprietor of Roundseventeen, Rich Siegel.

It was a little embarrassing when Rich and I left the theater after the movie, and we got stopped and asked several times if that was us in the beach volleyball scene. We get that a lot. Understandable, since we're both built so similarly to those actors. Like looking in a mirror.

Anyway, after I got home Rich texted me what he thought of the movie. He summed it up perfectly (no surprise), and I couldn't agree with him more.

Top Gun. Top Fun.

Mr. T-Rex

I'm not gonna lie. I can't wait for Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom. Even though it'll be the fifth installment in the series, after 65 million years it still never gets old.

After the primordial mess that was Jurassic Park 3, I thought for sure the series was extinct for good. But like a mosquito trapped in amber, sequels find a way.

Being a Hollywood kid I should've known better: never underestimate the power of recycling an old idea to make new money. Besides, even though Jurassic World wasn't great, it was fun. There were enough things about it I liked to keep me wanting more. Just like my high school girlfriend.

The story hadn't gotten much better, but the technology had. Those raptors and the T-Rex were looking mighty real. Plus Chris Pratt is a personal favorite, and always good for a laugh. Put that together with Bryce Dallas Howard running through the jungle in high heels, and you've got gold Jerry. Gold!

I'll never be too old to love dinosaurs, especially when they're running rampant, devouring bad guys and chewing the scenery. And I mean chewing the scenery. Judging by the trailer, it looks like it's going to be exactly what it was intended to be, and exactly what I'm looking for: a great summer popcorn movie, wildly entertaining and satisfying if you don't stop to think too much about it.

And if I'm wrong, there's always the next one.

This is the film I've been looking for

In the eternal divide between Star Trek and Star Wars people, I've always been on the Star Trek side. Not that I didn't like or appreciate Star Wars, but Star Trek spoke to me in a way SW didn't.

With today's release of the new SWVII trailer, while my position may not have changed entirely, I think I'm now on both sides. There's no other way to say it: I geeked out completely when I saw the new trailer.

December can't get here fast enough.

There are some predictions the new SW will make $2 billion worldwide, which would make it the most successful film ever. To which I say, I could've told you that.

There's a quick cameo at the end of the trailer of one of the most popular characters from the original film. I'm man enough to admit it gave me a lump in my throat and brought tears to my eyes when I saw this person.

I was totally unprepared for how strong the force is with this one.

Know what else I feel? Grateful.

Home alone. The sequel. Sorta. Not really.

Since this past Thursday night, I've been on my own. The family's been out of town, and it's just been me, the dogs and the goldfish. The goldfish was still alive last time I looked, although frankly, I haven't looked in a while.

Naturally, being alone for a few days is perfect fodder for a blogpost. Just like it was the first time I wrote about it.

So rather than write an entirely new post about the same subject, tonight the editorial staff at Rotation and Balance is going to do something they very rarely do. Give you an encore presentation of a post written awhile ago.

You could think of this as an opportunity to reevaluate the subject matter. Or to once again enjoy the humorous stylings. Some of you might get a kick out of a second chance to laugh at the visuals.

Then again I suppose there are always a cynical few among you who'd say I'm just too lazy to come up with something new late on a Saturday night. I'm sure people with that mindset would say I'm taking the easy way out.

To those people, I have only one thing to say: Who am I to argue.

Please to enjoy. Again.

This weekend is going to be awesome. It’s the kind of weekend a guy who’s been married as long as I have with two kids dreams about. And it doesn’t happen very often.

This weekend, the wife and daughter are away at a mother/daughter retreat they go to every year. My son, a student-council vice-president, is away on a student council overnight planning session/beach party. That can only mean one thing.

Saturday night belongs to me, and me alone. (rolling hands together) Muahhhhhh!

Here's how this weekend goes in my rich fantasy life. Since I have the place to myself, I decide to invite over 1500 of my closest friends for a wild, drunken, too-loud music, cigarette burns on the furniture, wine and beer stains on the carpet, cops have to be called kind of party. For reasons best left unsaid, there are hoists and pulleys, whipped cream and garden hoses involved. It goes until sun up.

Now here's how this weekend usually goes in my real life.

I have to make the important decision about dinner. It usually comes down to In-N-Out or Five Guys. I'm thinking this might be a Five Guys kind of Saturday. Then once I'm home, I catch up with the two nights of America's Got Talent and a week's worth of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report that have been sitting on the dvr. I'll finish my Gillian Flynn book. I'll somehow find the energy to get up off the couch and walk and feed Max, world’s greatest dog. Once that's done, I'm back on the couch and asleep by 9, a 48 Hours Mystery blaring in the background (Spoiler: the boyfriend did it).

I hope the family doesn't wake me when they come back. I'll need the rest after the weekend I'm going to have.