Monday, March 18, 2024

NO JEEP RIDE THIS MORNING

A skiff of snow on the ground under a cold gray cloud cover didn't do anything to enhance my outlook for the day.  In fact, when it started snowing I thought, "the hell with this" and headed for my sunroom recliner and my book,  No Jeep ride this morning and the snow kept falling.  And, it's predicted to be like this for the next 5 days straight.  If you don't hear much from me for a few days just know I am tipped back in my sunroom recliner with a blanket pulled over my head.......reading.  

 THE VIEW FROM MY RECLINER TODAY
A Blast From Our Past: There are many wonderful scenic drives in Arizona and on this day fourteen years ago we traveled one of the best ones....... Driving The Apache Trail 

Al's Music Box:)) Young Love The recording by American country singer Sonny James was released by Capitol Records and was produced by Ken Nelson. It was recorded on October 30, 1956, at Bradley Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. 

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A man walking along a California beach was deep in prayer. Suddenly the sky clouded above his head and, in a booming voice, the Lord said, "Because you have TRIED to be faithful to me in all ways, I will grant you one wish."  The man said, "Build a bridge to Hawaii so I can drive over anytime I want."The Lord said, "Your request is very materialistic. Think of the enormous challenges for that kind of undertaking. The supports required to reach the bottom of the Pacific! The concrete and steel it would take! It will nearly exhaust several natural resources. I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire for worldly things. Take a little more time and think of something that would honor and glorify me."  The man thought about it for a long time. Finally he said, "Lord, I wish that I could understand my wife. I want to know how she feels inside, what she's thinking when she gives me the silent treatment, why she cries, what she means when she says ‘nothing's wrong,’ and how I can make a woman truly happy."  The Lord replied, "You want two lanes or four on that bridge?"

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- My wife won’t let me get a tattoo of a grizzly bear on each bicep...She is infringing on my right to bear arms!

- What does a cannibal say to the waiter in a restaurant on a cruise ship?  “Please bring me the passenger list.”

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Sign on a company bulletin board: “This firm requires no physical fitness program. Everyone gets enough exercise jumping to conclusions, flying off the handle, running down the boss, flogging dead horses, knifing friends in the back, dodging responsibility, and pushing their luck.”

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We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from life.......William Osler

Sunday, March 17, 2024

WELL, AT LEAST FOR TODAY

 WE HAVE 3 FRONT YARD  BUNNIES VISITING US DAILY NOW
It was encouraging to see sunlight streaming through our living room window first thing this morning but that encouragement soon dwindled when an unseen cloud cover soon blotted out that encouragement.  With a few lazy snowflakes in the 33F morning air, Pheebs and I slowly made our way around the Park's road for fifteen minutes before returning home and backing the Jeep into the carport.  Another 9 days and we can finally burst out of the Park and take to the country roads again:))))) 

I HAVEN'T DECIDED IF THIS STUMP ON A PARK RESIDENT'S LAWN IS A RHINOSAUCERUS, A HIPPAPOTAMOOSE, OR A FRANTIC SNAPPING TURTLE THINKING  IT IS A WADDLING TURKEY....OH, AND I SEE THE HEAD OF A LARGE TROLLLIKE GARGOYLE LOOKING SKYWARD TOO
Since April 27th of 1993 I have been keeping a record of my weight.  On that April day, I weighed in at 173 pounds.  The heaviest weight I reached through the ensuing years was 217 on May 4th, 2010.  This morning I weighed in at my lightest weight in nearly 30 years.  For some reason, the pounds are dropping off and the scale registered 181 pounds this morning.  Ideally, though I thought it would never happen, I'd like to get down to 175 pounds or a touch lower.  We'll see what happens.  

 TRULY A HANDSOME COUPLE IN OUR PARK
 WALKING WITH SWAGGER
For a fellow who has said a number of times in his posts that he much prefers to read books of fact rather than fiction, I have to take a step back from that statement of mine and say I just finished another work of fiction which quite held my interest all the way through the novel from beginning to end.  And, this book was a real challenge for this short-term memory of mine with all its unexpected twists, turns, and plots. As it so often happens, it's difficult for me to remember what I'm reading as I go along and I'll give you a non-exaggerated example of that.  Whether I'm only five minutes into starting a new book or maybe half of the first chapter, etc. and you were to ask me the title of the book I am reading I would give you a blank stare.  It happens to me every time without fail.  I might only be on page 15 and already I can't remember the title of the book I'm reading.  If I'm reading and set the book down for a couple of hours before resuming my reading, I always have to go back maybe three or four pages to jog my memory as to where I am in the story I am reading.  You can imagine how far back I have to go if I haven't picked up the book for a couple days or more.  Frustrating to say the least but when you love reading as much as I do since my public school days it's just one of those little things I have to accept and take in stride.  It wasn't always like this for me, but it is now in these twilight years.  Oh, by the way, the book I just finished was a nine-hour read entitled, The Lost Bookshop: by author, Evie Woods.  Again, it was the title and cover of the book that first caught my attention.  Once again, I nearly bailed out of the book about half an hour in but by then the author had me hooked and I soldiered on right to the end and have to say, I did enjoy the read.  For my next book, I may seek out something a little simpler and less brain-challenging.  Maybe another Dick and Jane book:))  Feeling better today, the sick feeling nausea seems to have finally lifted.  Well, at least for today.
LOOK CLOSELY THERE ARE FOUR LITTLE EYES IN THIS PHOTO
A Blast From Our Past:))
  Fourteen years ago today we were east of Phoenix, Arizona and the morning found us Hiking Up Superstition Mountain (click on the smaller photos to enlarge them)

Al's Music Box:))
 New Soul is by t
he group Album Leaf which officially began in 1998 as the solo project of Jimmy LaValle, guitarist for San Diego, California-based post-rock instrumental band Tristeza. LaValle has also performed in several other San Diego-area bands, including The Crimson Curse, The Locust, Swing Keds, and GoGoGoAirheart.  Mike Vermillion recorded LaValle doing improvised material on a Rhodes piano to a vintage Roland drum machine. This would become his first full-length album. Vermillion supplied synthesizers and vocals to these recordings.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  How Do You Decide Who To Marry?(written by kids)

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
-- Alan, age 10
No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
-- Kristen, age 10
2. WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
-- Camille, age 10
3. HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
-- Derrick, age 8
4. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids.
-- Lori, age 8
5. WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
-- Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure)
On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
-- Martin, age 10
6. WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
When they're rich.
-- Pam, age 7
The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
-- Curt, age 7
The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
-- Howard, age 8
7. IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
-- Anita, age 9 (bless you child )
8. HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
-- Kelvin, age 8
And the #1 Favorite is...
9. HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck.
-- Ricky, age 10

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Saturday, March 16, 2024

SHORT DRIVE

Haven't been feeling well these past few days but Pheebs and I did manage to get out for a short drive around the Park this morning. 

Al's Music Box:)) Different Drum is a song written by American singer-songwriter Michael Nesmith in 1964.  The song is best known for the 1967 version credited to the Stone Poneys, featuring a vocal performance by an up-and-coming 21-year-old singer named Linda Ronstadt. It was Ronstadt's first hit single.  Ronstadt's version flips the gender references in Nesmith's original lyrics, replacing "girl" with "boy" when describing her lover, but still referring to him being "pretty".  Distant Drum was done on the second take with no overdubbing.

PUSSYCAT IN A WINDOW
GROANER'S CORNER:(( It was Paddy and Seamus giving the motorcycle a ride on a brisk autumn day. After a wee bit, Paddy who was sitt'n behind Seamus on the bike began to holler ..."Seamus ... Seamus ... the wind is cutt'n me chest out!" "Well, Paddy my lad," said Seamus, "why don't you take your jacket off and turn it from front to back ... that'll block the wind for you." So Paddy took Seamus' advice and turned his jacket from front to back and got back on the bike and the two of them were off down the road again. After a bit, Seamus turned to talk to Paddy and was horrified to see that Paddy was not there. Seamus immediately turned the bike around and retraced their route. When after a short time he came to a turn and saw a bunch of farmers standing around Paddy who was sitting on the ground. "T'anks be to heaven, is he alright?" Seamus hailed to the farmers. "Well," said one of the farmers, " he was alright when we found him here .. but since we turned his head back to front .. he hasn't said a word since!"

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  • How old are leprechauns? Old enough to remember when rainbows were black and white.
  • Why did the leprechaun say no to a bowl of soup? He already had a pot of gold.
  • What's a leprechaun's favorite dessert? A shamrock shake.
  • What do you call a bulletproof Irishman? A rick-o-shea.
  • What is Yadskcirtapts? St.  Patrick’s Day spelled backward.
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Friday, March 15, 2024

WALKING WITH MY CANE AGAIN AND ANOTHER RV BLOGGING FRIEND HAS PASSED AWAY

 SNOWDROP FLOWERS
Cloudy first thing this morning but at least the rain had finally stopped, the temperature was pushing 40F, and there were a couple brief bursts of sunlight.  Pheebs and I were out for a routine drive around the Park and managed to find a few more photos.
 IN ANOTHER MONTH OR SO THIS FOREST FLOOR IN OUR PARK WILL BE FILLED WITH SPRINGS TRILLIUM FLOWERS
 AN OLD UPROOTED PINE TREE POINTS TO THE SKY
 MANY BABY PINE TREES GROWING IN OUR PARK
I have a habit at times of pushing myself a little too hard whether it be mentally or physically.  In this case, it was physical though I do not see it as a step backward.  As of yesterday, I am using my cane again and will probably do so for the next couple of days.  Pushing myself to walk without a cane a few days ago was premature and it was my hip and right leg that ouchily told me so.  This time I will wait for my hip to give me the 'all clear' signal instead of me telling it to 'straighten up and walk right'.

 I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THESE FLOWERS ARE

With errands to run, a few groceries to pick up, and a stop at the Dynacare Lab for bloodwork, Kelly headed off to Goderich this morning.  All went well and she didn't have any problems.

 HMMMM, LOOKS LIKE A CRITTER CAM TO ME
 ALL EXISTING PROPERTIES IN OUR PARK NOW HAVE 911 NUMBERS AND DID YOU NOTICE THE BLACK SQUIRREL IN THE BACKGROUND
Kelly is making headway with her new iPhone 15.  On the phone with Bell Telephone Thursday she finally hammered out a satisfactory new phone plan which turned out to be better than her old plan.  At the moment she is awaiting the delivery of a new Sim card from Bell to fully activate the phone.       

 THE PINE FOREST HERE IN THE PARK CAN BE QUITE DENSE IN SOME AREAS
We got word Thursday evening that another RV Blogger friend has passed away while hiking in a State Park in Phoenix, Arizona.  In our early RVing days John Brown, an Alberta rancher had been one of our earliest blog followers.  While boondocked south of Quartzsite, Arizona in January of 2009 a knock came to our door one fine sunny morning.  Opening it, there stood a tall good looking fella with a big smile on his face.  It was John Brown.  You can read about that morning here...Pleasantly Surprised By Some Blog Followers  Over the years we would run into John and his wife Brenda a few times here and there and especially at our Congress House when they and some other long-time RV Blogging friends of ours, Janna and Mike popped in.  The last time we saw John was on Yellowbird Road in Bouse Arizona....A Long Day In Parker Arizona At Castro's Garage  It was our last RVing year.  John was a fine example of a gentle giant.  A true soft spoken cowboy who loved, raised, and rode horses.  In fact, John and Brenda would sometimes trailer their horses from Alberta to Arizona to ride them in the winter months.  Just prior to the time Kelly and I bought our little ranch house in Congress Arizona, John and Brenda bought a ranch house just west of Casa Grande, Arizona.  They called their place 'Dog Pound South' and their ranch in Alberta, 'Dog Pound North'.  John worked many years for the Shell Oil Company.  In his early days, someone else worked for Shell Oil as well and it was none other than Douglas Bader, the Second World War's renowned fighter pilot ace during The Battle of Britain.  Following the war Douglas Bader in later years worked for Shell Oil flying executives, engineers, and workers around various oil sites and cities.  And, one of those Shell Oil employees was John Brown.  For me, having read many books about the fighter pilots of that era, I would say to John when shaking his hand, 'hey it's an honor to shake the hand of a man who once shook the hand of one of England's top fighter aces.  John always got a big smile out of that.  Here's John's story in his own words about Douglas Bader..."In the far distant past Douglas Bader was the chief pilot for the company I worked for. One time on a long flight from Inuvik back to Calgary he like I was a passenger on our company plane. Being about 6'6" I was always on the lookout for a seat with a little extra leg room. On this flight I found one, but the crew put the bum's rush on me and said it was for Mr. Bader, he came along just at that time and said heck that kid needs the leg room more than I do, I can just take my legs off. Later on that flight he told me he always sat at the back of the plane. "Further from the point of impact" was his theory”.   John's blog has been on my sidebar for the past 16 years and you can read his last post here....Happy New Year     

 THIS IS THE FIRST PICTURE I TOOK OF JOHN BROWN ON JANUARY 20TH 2009 SOUTH OF QUARTZZITE ARIZONA
 THIS IS THE LAST PICTURE I TOOK OF JOHN BROWN HEADING BACK TO HIS TRUCK AND FIFTH WHEEL ON YELLOWBIRD ROAD, NEAR BOUSE ARIZONA...FEBRUARY 1ST, 2019
 IT WAS JOHN WHO TOOK THIS PICTURE OF US AT OUR CONGRESS ARIZONA HOUSE
Al's Music Box:)) Blue Moon is the debut studio album by the doo-wop group The Marcels. It was released in 1961.   Although the album Blue Moon failed to chart on the Billboard albums chart, the first single "Blue Moon" did well. The single charted at No. 1 on the billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, charted at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, sold one million copies and the group was awarded a gold disc.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A farmer got pulled over by a state trooper for speeding, and the trooper started to lecture the farmer about his speed, and in general, began to throw his weight around to try to make the farmer uncomfortable. Finally, the trooper got around to writing out the ticket, and as he was doing that he kept swatting at some flies that were buzzing around his head.  The farmer said, 'Having some problems with circle flies there, are ya?' The trooper stopped writing the ticket and said, 'Well yeah, if that's what they are, but I never heard of circle flies.'  So the farmer says, 'Well, circle flies are common on farms. See, they're called circle flies because they're almost always found circling around the back end of a horse.'  The trooper says, 'Oh,' and goes back to writing the ticket. Then after a minute he stops and says, 'Hey...wait a minute, are you trying to call me a horse's ass?'  The farmer says, 'Oh no, officer. I have too much respect for law enforcement and police officers to even think about calling you a horse's ass.'  The trooper says, 'Well, that's a good thing,' and goes back to writing the ticket.  After a long pause, the farmer says, 'Hard to fool them flies though...'

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- “A timber wolf is an animal with wooden legs.”

- I'm not 10, I'm more like two 5's held together by mashed potatoes.

Q: How does an archeologist tell a male skeleton from a female skeleton?
A: He knows it’s a female skeleton if the jawbone is worn down.

- Teacher: "You are the only one in the entire class who makes so many mistakes in the homework assignment."  Student: "That is not true, I am not the only one. My parents are involved in this as well!"
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Thursday, March 14, 2024

GOODBYE THURSDAY, MAYBE SEE YOU NEXT WEEK

 RAIN PUDDLES
Cloudy day but that was okay because it was in the house I decided to stay.  With my body in need of rest I did my best to not go out in the yard and play.  Except for a ride with my Pal at my side, I found me a new book to have me a look at what stories I could find to entertain my mind.  But days like this I am sometimes remiss to dismiss the bliss in my heart I may not find.  And so went another mid-March day.

I don't know when it was the rains came but when I looked up from my book sometime around mid-afternoon I noticed our wet deck.  Pheebs lay asleep beside my sunroom chair.  Goodbye Thursday,  maybe see you next week...........    

Al's Music Box:)) A bit of a different start to the Music Box tonight.  I finished Willie Nelson's biography entitled It's A Long Story: My LifeTonight I have the first four big hit songs Willie wrote in one year that were performed by well-known country artists at the time.  This was the major turning point in Willie Nelson's life where he literally, after many hard and difficult years, went from rags to riches.  Crazy by Patsy Cline.  Funny How Time Slips Away by Billy Walker.  Hello Walls by Faron Young and Night Life by Ray Price.  Willie writes about how these songs and many, many, others came to him.  I found this to be a great book and I have gained a lot of respect for the man, his music, and his honesty:))  So now, how about a song from the man himself.....Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain

GROANER'S CORNER:(( This 60-year-old woman was walking along 5th Avenue when she heard a voice from above: "You will live to be 100."  She looked around and didn't see anyone. Again she heard: "You will live to be 100."  "Boy," she thought to herself, "that was the voice of God. I've got 40 more years to live!"  So off she went to the plastic surgeon. She got everything fixed from head to toe.  When she left the plastic surgeon's office, she got hit by a bus, died, and went up to heaven.  She said to God, "You told me I would live to be 100. I was supposed to have had 40 more years. So how come you let the bus kill me?"  God said, "I didn't recognize you".

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"How's the diet going?"
"Not good, I had eggs for breakfast."
"Scrambled?"
"No, chocolate."

- The 1st time I went skydiving I asked the instructor how long it would take to hit the ground if my parachute didn't open.
With a sly smile on his face he said, "The rest of your life son."

- Frustrated, the teen storms into his sister's bedroom. "Why are adults always asking us what we want to be when we grow up?"  Without hesitation the sister replies, "It's because they’re looking for ideas.”

- It was dinner time on a British Airways flight from London to New York. As the flight attendant moved down the plane, she asked one of the passengers: 
“Would you like dinner?”  “What are my choices?” asked the passenger.  “Yes or No,” replied the attendant.

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